A stirring tale of courage and devotion, though bear mothers don’t get proper credit.
In Millar’s illustrated children’s book, a chosen bear cub must lead the fight against oppressive eagles.
In The Forest Kingdom, a magical land where two moons rise at night, bears have been subjugated to eagles for generations, though they once lived in peace. Aided by his soldiers and spies, the Eagle Warrior demands a heavy tribute of fish and berries from bears along with their forced labor as nest builders. One day, as Outspoken Bear is teaching his son, Child Cub, and another young bear named Kindred Cub how to fish, they’re bullied by the Captain and Lieutenant of Eagle Spies. Outspoken Bear mollifies them, but that night, at the Elder Council, he declares, “The tyranny of The Eagle must end!” Elder Bear takes the Council to the secret Elder Cave, whose walls record a prophecy that someday, a bear will restore peaceful freedom to The Forest Kingdom. The bears’ rebellion fails, however, and Outspoken Bear gives his life to protect the rest. With his mother, Child Cub flees to the Ancient Oaks, where he can grow up in safety—and perhaps fulfill his destiny if he follows his guiding stars. In his debut book, Millar provides fresh mythmaking on the theme of a destined hero who saves his people, with satisfying elements like a magical spear. The bear families here don’t reflect real life, however, where mothers alone raise and protect cubs (fathers can actually endanger them). The book provides a link for readers to download five songs, one for each chapter. Fox’s images convey mood well through rich, saturated colors, dramatic contrasts of light and shadow, dynamic composition, and expressive animal faces.
A stirring tale of courage and devotion, though bear mothers don’t get proper credit.Pub Date: Feb. 18, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-73402-140-0
Page Count: 132
Publisher: EvB Media
Review Posted Online: Feb. 23, 2021
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
Hugely entertaining, timely, and triumphant.
Robot Roz undertakes an unusual ocean journey to save her adopted island home in this third series entry.
When a poison tide flowing across the ocean threatens their island, Roz works with the resident creatures to ensure that they will have clean water, but the destruction of vegetation and crowding of habitats jeopardize everyone’s survival. Brown’s tale of environmental depredation and turmoil is by turns poignant, graceful, endearing, and inspiring, with his (mostly) gentle robot protagonist at its heart. Though Roz is different from the creatures she lives with or encounters—including her son, Brightbill the goose, and his new mate, Glimmerwing—she makes connections through her versatile communication abilities and her desire to understand and help others. When Roz accidentally discovers that the replacement body given to her by Dr. Molovo is waterproof, she sets out to seek help and discovers the human-engineered source of the toxic tide. Brown’s rich descriptions of undersea landscapes, entertaining conversations between Roz and wild creatures, and concise yet powerful explanations of the effect of the poison tide on the ecology of the island are superb. Simple, spare illustrations offer just enough glimpses of Roz and her surroundings to spark the imagination. The climactic confrontation pits oceangoing mammals, seabirds, fish, and even zooplankton against hardware and technology in a nicely choreographed battle. But it is Roz’s heroism and peacemaking that save the day.
Hugely entertaining, timely, and triumphant. (author’s note) (Fiction. 8-12)Pub Date: Sept. 26, 2023
ISBN: 9780316669412
Page Count: 288
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: Aug. 26, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2023
Quirky and imaginative—postmodern storytelling at its best.
Friendly curiosity and a gift for naming earn a polar bear an assortment of (mostly animal) friends, adventures, mishaps, and discoveries.
Arriving at a northern ocean, Duane spies a shipwreck. Swimming out to investigate, he meets its lone occupant, C.C., a learned snowy owl whose noble goal is acquiring knowledge to apply “toward the benefit of all.” Informing Duane that he’s a polar bear, she points out a nearby cave that might suit him—it even has a mattress. Adding furnishings from the wreck—the grandfather clock’s handless, but who needs to tell time when it’s always now?—he meets a self-involved musk ox, entranced by his own reflection, who’s delighted when Duane names him “Handsome.” As he comes to understand, then appreciate their considerable diversity, Duane brings out the best in his new friends. C.C., who has difficulty reading emotions and dislikes being touched, evokes the autism spectrum. Magic, a bouncy, impulsive arctic fox, manifests ADHD. Major Puff, whose proud puffin ancestry involves courageous retreats from danger, finds a perfect companion in Twitch, a risk-aware, common-sensical hare. As illustrated, Sun Girl, a human child, appears vaguely Native, and Squint, a painter, white, but they’re sui generis: The Canadian author avoids referencing human culture. The art conveys warmth in an icy setting; animal characters suggest beloved stuffed toys, gently reinforcing the message that friendship founded on tolerance breeds comfort and safety.
Quirky and imaginative—postmodern storytelling at its best. (Animal fantasy. 8-12)Pub Date: Sept. 10, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-5344-3341-0
Page Count: 272
Publisher: Atheneum
Review Posted Online: May 7, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2019
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