The Eyes and the Impossible by Dave Eggers

Dave Eggers makes it clear from the first sentence that our story narrator is a dog. 

"I turn I turn I turn before I lie to sleep and rise before the Sun."

This is confirmed in the second paragraph:

"I am a dog called Johannes and I have seen you. I have seen you in this park, my home. If you have come to this park, my vast green windblown park by the sea, I have seen you."

This park is a wild environment but it is also a place frequented by humans for all sorts of activities many of which are a mystery to Johannes and his friends. Living in the park, behind a high fence, there are three Bison. I guess they are there as a draw-card for visitors but Johannes and the other animals know Freya, Meredith and Samuel are really the Keepers of the Equilibrium. Johannes is a free dog, a wild dog which means he can roam around the park. He has the important job of the Eyes reporting on all the park activities to the Bison. His friends are Bertrand a huge seagull; Sonja a squirrel; Yolanda a pelican; and Angus a raccoon. This team are the Assistant Eyes. All of them report to the Johannes and he then talks to Freya, Meredith and Samuel. Each of the animal characters has a very distinct personality. 

Yoland "like all pelicans, prefers to fly low low over the water, inches above the surface of the water. Yolanda also happens to be the only one among us who can read human written language, a gift she wear lightly."

Sonja "has a habit of showing up without saying hello, as if she's barged in on a private meeting. She's been on of the Assistants coming meet us on our rock, for probably six hundred years, so we cannot understand this, the way she persists with this initial shyness. She is missing an  eye, and the easy answer would be that this missing eye, lost in a fight with a crow, has caused her reticence."

Things are changing in the park. It is not exactly specified but I gathered the new building is an art gallery. The problem is, Johannes finds the art mesmerising and this means he puts himself in danger from the park authorities and the control-the-animals-people. Johannes is captured but it is by some hippies. This is a terrifying scene and a heroic rescue. Then a huge herd goats arrive to clear a large area of spiky weeds. His capture has made Johannes think about freedom and so he makes the huge decision to set the Bison free. This will take a huge team effort and while it seems completely impossible the outcome is sure to surprise you.

I held my breath when I looked to see IF Betsy Bird had read this book and then to see if she loved it as much as I did - YES she sure did! Here is an extract but please read her whole review - it is, as usual, eloquent and perfect. "You will find a thoroughly well-written, occasionally touching, funny, strange little book that sticks both its landing and in your memory. "

A confident writer that is confident for good reason is deeply satisfying. ... I devoured this book in a single sitting and would reread it happily if asked to do so, which I cannot say for every kids book I pick up. It’s the writing, man. It dares to be better, but doesn’t lose young readers along the way. There’s excitement and goats and near drownings and ridiculous disguises. It’s a legitimately fun book that soaked itself in great writing and isn’t afraid to show that writing off. I don’t know if it has what it takes to become a massive hit. I don’t know if other adult gatekeepers will agree with me on what it is doing (and how well). Fuse 8 SLJ Betsy Bird

There is a deeper story here, too, about being yourself and finding freedom. It is hinted at in the natural beauty of the deluxe version of the book, with its solid-wood front and back covers, and in Shawn Harris’s sublime illustrations. New York Times

Listen to an audio sample from the first chapter here. And the trailer is here. I highly recommend you share this trailer with a group of students when you introduce this wonderful book. More review comments here. 

One of the aspects of this writing that I found utterly delicious were the brilliant words and phrases used by Dave Eggers. Here are some examples: odorous, reticence, gravitas, all the hassles inherent in highly concentrated humanity, partake, maniacal, enumerate, privy to our deliberations and  judgements, sutured, paragon of valour, and validity. 

This book would be a perfect read aloud to a Grade 5 or 6 class. I wish I could, right now, put this book into the hands of a skilled teacher. This book is also perfect for animal lovers and readers who enjoy exploring a different perspective. In some ways this is a moving and serious story but there are so many quietly funny moments such as the way Johannes has absolutely no idea about numbers which means he exaggerates every time he talks about time or about the number of creatures in the park, especially the goats. Oh, and there is also the running joke about ducks and loons. 

Read this description of trucks that have a reversing beep - it will show you the way Dave Eggers adds touches of humour to his story and I am guessing he also dislikes this sound:

"And here I should say that of all the horrible things human have created, the most maniacal and wrong of them all is this, this intermittent screaming sound as their vehicles go backward. All of life stops when the screaming begins. All beauty ends, all music ends, clouds cleave, hearts break, and all of the world nearby waits, with breath held, for the sound to end. Nothing can be done during this mechanical wailing. No thinking, no eating, no running, no living."

And this one of the goats:

"The way they were eating the weeds was chilling. Would they eat us too? They seemed like vegetarians, but how could we be sure? There were so many of them. A thousand? A million? They could disappear the five of us in seconds."

There are two covers at the top of this post. The one that looks like wood is actually wood! and that is the one I bought. It also has gold embossed silky page edges and rich coloured art based illustrations.  This is the most expensive middle grade book I have ever bought at AUS$50 but it sure was worth it. The cover intrigued me and the Kirkus review convinced me and today, in one huge gulp, I read the whole book of 249 pages. 

Bison are such fascinating beasts. When I lived in Alberta there were several in a paddock near the town and very occasionally I would see them from my car. 

Betsy Bird said many people are not fans of animal books but this is not true for me. I did cry in Charlotte's Web but I also loved every word and similarly The Underneath is a book that moved me so profoundly - I have read it twice. Once you have read, and YES you must read The Eyes and the Impossible - head off to your library and try to find these:

Firstborn

A Wolf called Wonder

The way of Dog

Pax

Endling - The Last

Seekers - The Quest Begins

Crossings by Katy S Duffield illustrated by Mike Ododán

Just when you think someone has thought of every possible topic for a non-fiction book another book/idea/topic pops up. The subtitle of this book is: 

Extraordinary structures for extraordinary animals.

"All over the world people are building over, under, across, and through the places where wild animals live, and the animals are losing their homes. But now - all over the world people are also building wildlife crossings that help the animals safely travel over, under, across and through busy roadways that people have built. And these crossings are working!"

In this book you will read about: tunnels for elephants in Kenya; a bridge with 3000 trees built for pangolins in Singapore; the way the route is diverted for thousands of crabs on Christmas Island; a New Zealand tunnel for tiny Blue Penguins; safe wildlife crossings for elk in Banff; and 125 rope bridges in Costa Rica for their Titi monkeys.

Here is one of the example of crossings from Australia:

Take a closer look at this sample page. The text in this book is perfect for younger readers because each page has two, three or four lines in larger print with a brief explanation of the illustration. It is also perfect for older primary readers because each page also includes a paragraph in smaller print with more details about the crossing. The back matter fills in more details and also contains a useful further reading list. 

An unusual focus on one way humans and animals can coexist in our world. Kirkus

Crossings (published in 2020) is a large format book with rich digital illustrations and yet I am happy to see it costs less than $30 so if you have a little money in your library budget this unique book is one you might want to consider. 

Mule Deer using a highway underpass 

Monkey Bridge in Brazil - click on this site to see 50 other crossing 

examples from around the world

Katy S Duffield has videos on her web site which you could use with a class. In this blog post Katy talks about the idea behind her book and her thoughts about writing expository non fiction. 

Post update - since I shared this book with you a couple of other titles have been published:

CSIRO Publishing February 2025

And if you create a mini unit around this theme I highly recommend reading this slim junior novel:

This might have a different cover in your school or local library

Tiger by Jan Jutte

What would YOU do if you met a huge tiger in the woods near your house?  When Josephine met a tiger on her walk "she froze" which was probably a good reaction because this huge creature does not attack her instead he "circle around her and snorted heavily. He rubbed against Josephine's arm."

As Josephine begins to stoke Tiger, he purrs. Josephine invites Tiger back to her house and she feeds him some leftovers. Tiger seems happy in her the house. Josephine decides to take him shopping but first she ties a scarf around his neck because she knows the people in the town will be scared of him. Over time the people, though, become used to seeing Josephine and her tiger He even goes to school for show and tell but one night Josephine notices his stripes are fading. 

The doctor tells Josephine Tiger needs to return to his homeland. Josephine is so sad but she buys two tickets and the pair climb aboard a luxury ocean liner. 

"Josephine never mentioned their goodbyes. It must have been to sad."

Josephine takes the long journey home - alone. The seasons match her mood. The sky is grey and rain is falling in the town. Then down an alleyway she spies a new friend!

Tiger would be a delightful book to read to a Kindergarten or Grade One class. You could use it as a springboard to talk about habitat, wild animals, acceptance and the ways to treat new friends. Tiger was first published in The Netherlands under the title Tijger. 

This book reminded me of a very old favourite of mine - Elizabeth and Larry by Marilyn Sadler.

Moon by Alison Olver

Moon lives an over scheduled life. Homework, soccer, trumpet, tutoring, "stuff and more stuff blah blah blah." Moon completes her tasks diligently but she questions the pattern of her life.

"What would it feel like to be free?
To run. To yell. To be wild. 
Can you learn to be wild?"

One evening Moon finds some footprints outside and in her garden she finds a wolf. The wolf offers Moon a ride and the pair set off into the forest. Moon has a wonderful evening of freedom. She learns to pounce and howl but the most special thing she discovers is "how to be still. How to listen and feel."

Image Source Blog Unleashing Readers

This is an exquisite book and one you could share many times with a young child. I wanted to stroke the wolf - his fur looks so inviting and soft.  Here is a set of discussion questions.

With its simple text and stunning illustrations, Moon is a lovely celebration of play, nature, and the revitalizing affect that embracing our inner wild can have on our well-being. Happily ever Elephants

This marvelous book is an invitation for us to look tonature to remember who we are and to realize the best life has to offerus.  Moon written and illustrated byAlison Oliver will have readers howling during and after story time. Librarian’sQuest

Alison Oliver has just published a companion volume to Moon - appropriately called Sun. I have added it to my too read list.

Alison Oliver has created truly special illustrations for Moon. Take a look at her web site - Sugar.

I would pair Moon with a Australian book Ella and the Ocean because this is also a book about the way experiences can alter our mind set and world view.

A Wolf called Wander by Rosanne Parry illustrated by Monica Armino

"I begin in darkness and my nose tells me everything I know. 
I have a brother Sharp. Bigger than me, and all growl. I have sisters. Pounce, who loves to wrestle, and Wag, who talks with her tail. And best of all my brother Warm, who likes to curl up under my chin, the only pup small than me."

This is a quote from the beginning of A Wolf called Wander and I think it gives you an idea about the tone and style of this writing.

Over the course of the story we follow Swift as he wanders alone after his pack are attacked by a larger and more ferocious enemy wolf pack. He travels a huge distance through forests and plains searching all the time for a companion. Every day is about survival - food, water and a safe place to sleep. Luckily Swift does have one unlikely helper/companion - a raven. "Ravens do things for a reason. She is talking to me. She knows where to find meat. But for all their savvy, ravens have the wrong beak for opening a hide. They need someone with teeth to get at the meat." Swift also has to navigate past humans with their guns and their black rivers (roads) which seem impossible to pass safely.

I have a fascination with books about wolves and books written from their point of view. Perhaps this goes back to my reading of White Fang by Jack London when I was in Grade Six.  A Wolf called Wander is not for the feint hearted. As a part of his survival Swift (his name is changed to Wander at the end of the book) must kill and dismember animals such as elk. These scenes may distress a young reader.

The best scenes are when Swift is reunited with Warm, when he witnesses the birth of a wild horse foal and the final scenes when he meets his mate called Night and their pups are born. Reading this book you will feel as though you are inside the true thoughts of a wolf - his instinct and emotions. Rosanne Parry often says Swift has to "sit on his wag" when he is excited about something. I just love those words.

Listen to this audio sample from page 3. A Wolf Called wonder is an illustrated novel. The line drawings by Monica Armino are fabulous.


The book is from Swift’s perspective but I should be clear that this is not an attempt to anthropomorphise wolves – their behaviour and communication is in keeping with the animal. It’s almost like Parry has translated the behaviour for our benefit and understanding. Roachie's Review

Other books I have read and enjoyed about wolves include The Wolf Wilder; First Born and Wolf Brother by Michelle Paver.

Brindabella by Ursula Dubosarsky illustrated by Andrew Joyner

"If Pender and his father had looked back, they would have seen that Brindabella was now standing at the open door. This was her time! She sniffed the air. She heard the rustling leaves high up on the hill. Hurry, Brindabella! Hurry! .. Out, out, away, away she went, far away and up the hill into the deep freedom of the bush."

The fierce love of the boy, Pender, is central in this story. He finds a joey kangaroo in the  pouch of her dead mother.  Finding a baby animal which has survived like this is sure to appeal to all young readers. Pender is living in a remote part of Australia. His father is loving but reclusive spending his daylight hours in his studio painting. Pender relies on farm routines and the companionship of his dog Billy-Bob.  Finding the joey gives Pender a new focus. He needs to make sure she is feed and keep her safe and he loves to draw sketches of her but he does know one day she must return to the wild.

It is easy to understand Pender's feelings and love towards Brindabella but Ursula Dubosarsky  also allows us to 'hear' Brindabella herself and she is quite a fiesty, confident and opinionated young girl.

"She knew that Pender cared for her, held her close, kept her safe, and fed her. But she didn't belong to him. She belonged to no-one but herself. 
'Why should he love me?' she asked, shrugging her shoulders. 'I don't love anybody.'
She thumped her tail in the dust, which rose in a puff. That was what she loved - her strong, beautiful tail."

This is a book in three acts - rather like a play:

Act One Pender - finding and raising Brindabella and happy times on the farm.
Act Two Brindabella -  the escape and new life in the bush learning to keep safe and make new friends.
Act Three Meeting again - There are hunters in the bush, Pender and his faithful dog Billy-Bob need to make sure Brindabella is safe.

The relationship between Pender and his father is a complex one. Their communication is limited and we are not told why his father becomes ill but an astute reader will recognise it is connected with grief.

Here are a set of detailed and very useful teachers notes written by Joy Lawn. Brindabella has been included in the CBCA Notables (Younger Readers) for 2019. On 26th March the six short listed titles will be announced. I hope Brindabella makes the cut. You can see some of the art by Andrew Joyner from the book here. I would recommend this book for children aged 8+ because there is a very tragic moment toward the end which may shock a younger child.

If you want to explore the idea of raising a young animal like Brindabella take a look at Sebastian lives in a Hat. Also below you can see the Polish edition of Brindabella. How exciting to see this book about the Australian bush reaching an international audience.

North - The Greatest Animal journey on Earth by Nick Dowson illustrated by Patrick Benson

They are all embarking on one long, intense journey that will take them across oceans and continents, for thousands of miles - braving predators, starvation and extreme weather conditions - to reach the very top of the world. LoveReading4Kids

Just last week another Teacher-Librarian and I were talking about special non fiction books with exquisite illustrations and a rich narrative style.Today I spied this book in my local public library. North is an excellent example of this 'genre'.  Patrick Benson has created the Arctic world so vividly you will almost feel cold reading this glorious book.

"At the very top of our world is a huge wild place called the Arctic. Here in winter, the sun sinks away, blizzards fill the darkness and even the seas freeze deep."

It is winter and the only animals stirring in this harsh expanse are the polar bear and arctic fox but when spring comes plants appear along with visitors from the far reaches of the world. Grey whales from Mexico, terns from Antarctica and godwits from New Zealand.

There are lots of other birds too such as snow geese and white cranes. Pregnant caribou arrive with hungry wolves close behind. We see walrus and the mysterious narwhal.

"By late May, travellers crowd together near the very top of the world where even the coldest frozen seas are melting."

Babies are born and new life abounds but then the seasons cycle again. Days grow shorter. "Soon all the visitors will journey south - back to where they winter" leaving behind polar bear, fox, musk ox and arctic hare to "roam the frozen night alone."

On the final pages of North you can read brief facts about the Arctic. Over 180 different animals migrate there every year in spring. Sadly this important cycle is threatened by global warming. Nick Dowson also includes a glossary and index - important features in a non fiction book.

If you are unfamiliar with the work of Patrick Benson take a look at these:
Night sky Dragons
Owl Babies
The Little Boat

You could also look for an excellent book about the migration of the godwit by Jeannie Baker called Circle. This book is another example of a non fiction text with amazing art work and a narrative text.

Here are some other books in this style which explore the Arctic and the animals of this unique region.

Beryl goes wild by Jane Simmons

Beryl sat in her sty. It was the only place she had ever known; she had lived in it all her life. It was the sty where her mother had lost her life when Beryl was born. It was the sty where she'd seen them take her father away.

Beryl goes Wild or Beryl: A pigs tale as it is called in America is sadly long out of print but you should check your nearest library because this is a little book young readers will enjoy.

Beryl is living on a farm.  Her mother has died and her aptly named Aunt Misery and cousin make sure every day is a misery for little Beryl. When the farmer comes to select pigs to be taken away Aunt Misery makes sure Beryl is marked with his large sticker. She is placed into a truck with a crowd of other pigs. When the lorry crashes, Beryl is the only pig with enough curiosity, gumption, sense to seize freedom. Living as a 'pink' she has been told lots of cautionary tales about wild pigs. She is terrified of being eaten by them and so she is very suspicious when she meets a young wild pig called Amber. Beryl does not realise that very soon Amber will become more than a friend.

There are a group pigs living in the settlement called The Sisterhood of the Mystic Boar. They use stones to foretell the future. Moonshine, mother of Dew,  is one member of the Sisterhood and she explains Beryl is The Chosen One! This might be true but if Beryl stays with this group of wild pigs she will be breaking Rule Number One: "no other type of animals allowed into the settlement."  The council banish Beryl, Amber and her family along with the Sisterhood and a few other supporters. Uncle Bert explains why they must now leave:

"This isn't about the safety of the settlement! It's about prejudice! We need to work out a better way for the rules to protect us all. and I for one, won't stay where the rules are not for the protection of all pigs!"

There are so many interesting topics covered in this book. The idea of factory farms raising pigs for the abattoir, the prejudices and preconceived ideas about others which can be dispelled by a simple friendly conversation and the politics of control.

The Book Bag has more plot details and here is a very detailed review which might give you ideas for discussion questions with older students or among adults.  Your older students might follow Beryl goes Wild with another book series by Stephen Measday which begins with A pig called Francis Bacon. Sadly these books are also out of print but you might be lucky and find them in a school library.  You should also look for all the wonderful picture books by Jane Simmons including Ebb and Flow (try to find the DVD) and Daisy.

This is a tender adventure story about fears, finding yourself, being a leader and risking change to make your world a better place. A Book and a Hug

The Wild Robot by Peter Brown

"And then came the last crate. It followed the same path as the others, but instead of crashing against the rocks, it sloshed against the remains of the first four crates. Soon, more waves were heaving it up out of the water. It soared through the air, spinning and glistening until it slammed down onto a tall shelf of rock. The crate was cracked and crumpled, but the robot inside was safe."

I love reading a book where I have an internal dialogue with the author.  All though The Wild Robot I was having a discussion with Peter Brown about his inventive plot choices.  Crates of robots wash up on an island after a ship wreck but only one unit survives - ROSSUM unit 7134 or Roz for short.  Roz sets about using her computer brain to make sense of her environment and find ways to communicate with the animals she encounters. Luckily for Roz this island has no human inhabitants.

"Once fully activated, I will be able to move and communicate and learn. Simply give me a task and I will complete it. Over time, I will find better ways of completing my tasks. I will become a better robot."

Readers can only guess the real purpose of a robot like Roz but she certainly has an important role on this island. Even though Roz cannot really feel emotions herself there are some very powerful emotional scenes in this story.  One example early in the story is when Roz accidentally falls down a cliff onto some trees and she smashes into a goose nest. The geese are dead and four eggs are smashed but one egg survives.

"The robot gently cradled the fragile thin in her hand. Without a family, the unhatched gosling inside would surely die."

The gosling hatches but Roz does not know how to care for him so she has to ask the forest animals for help.  They are all very suspicious of this monster and they find it incredulous that Roz does not want to eat them in fact she does not eat at all. Roz and Brightbill, however, seem made for each other. Roz has so much to learn, Brightbill is learning as he grows and their shared paths help forge their new friendship and lead to understanding among the other animals too. Roz brings 'human' things to the island such as fire, shelter and she even uses the skills of the beavers to fashion a new foot when hers is lost. Island life is hard but it does feel like utopia until the day an airship arrives carrying three RECOs who have been sent to claim the lost cargo.  Here is a shortened version of the first conversation with Roz.

'We are here to retrieve all ROZZUM units.'
'Where have you come from?'
'Do not ask questions,'
'Where will you take me?'
'Do not ask questions.'
'Why must I leave?'
'Do not ask questions.'

I said earlier there are no humans on the island.  For me this is an important point. Peter Brown is exploring the dynamics between a man made machine in this case a robot and nature. The inclusion of humans would have given us an entirely different story - possibly one that would not be so powerful or interesting.  This is a story with layers which at times feels like a fable.

The stage is set for book two which I am hoping to grab as soon as it becomes available next month.

Brown has written a lively tale that is sure to engage young readers.   New York Times

This book would make a perfect class read-aloud. Here is a set of teachers notes. This review examines the way Peter Brown prepared to write his story of a robot in the wilderness. The School Library Journal also has a detailed review. Karen Yingling  interviewed Peter Brown for SLJ. I think this book is destined to become a classic - I do hope so.

I also enjoyed the way each chapter begins with italics and the generous illustrations which one commentator rightly suggested would look even better in colour.

Our story begins
As you might know
I should remind you

I do have a fascination with books about robots.  One of the books on my top book list is Eager by Helen Fox and the sequels.

The white fox by Jackie Morris

I adore the cover of The White Fox and I think this is why I picked out this little book (84 pages) on a recent shopping expedition.
.

Originally I thought we would put this book in our junior fiction section but now I have read it I will put it with our main fiction section because this is such a sensitive story which middle primary readers are sure to enjoy.

A white fox is seen down near the docks in Seattle.  Sol is more than curious.  He feels a desperate need to save this wild creature.  He knows in the past cats living down at the docks are caught. "His dad told him they took the cats to animal shelters where they were re-homed but Sol wasn't sure. No one would want these crazy stunted spitting wildcats. He had his own ideas of what happened to them."

Each week Sol receives a letter from his grandparents who live in the Arctic.  While it is never stated in the text you can see below that Sol and his family are Inuit people.  Sol hears that 'his white fox' has been captured.  He begs his dad to take him down to the docks.

"And I know I can't have a fox, and it's not yours to give anyway. But he needs to go home. ... he doesn't belong here. He belongs to the wild."

Their journey from Seattle to Alaska takes six days and gradually Sol talks to his dad about his unhappiness at school and he dares to ask about his mother who died in a car crash when he was just two.  Sol and his dad form a new bond. When they arrive, the grandparents give the father and son space and time to settle in.  Sol's grandmother shows him the carvings made by his mother. Sol feels comfortable and at home for the first time in his life. Now he needs to convince is father that this is the place they need to be.  This is truly their home.

Take time to read this review.  We have several other books in our school library illustrated by Jackie Morris.  She is such a skilled illustrator.