The Unlikely Tale of Chase and Finnegan by Jasmine Warga illustrated by Vivienne To

“This is Finnegan,” Basma says to the security guard. “He’s our new cheetah ambassador dog.” Cheetah ambassador dog? Finnegan isn’t positive, but he’s pretty certain cheetahs are a type of cat. Why would he have anything to do with cheetahs? This must be a mistake. Maybe his nervousness is making him hear things.

It is very clear from the first chapter, where we meet Finnegan, that he is a stray dog and that he has been through some trauma with his previous owner, but Jasmine Warga uses so much restraint before using just one word to introduce her cheetah cub named Chase and reveal that she is living in a zoo - that word is enclosure.

Finnegan is rescued from the forest by Ryan. Ryan lives with Basma. Basma works at the zoo. Are you connecting the dots?

Jasmine Warga creates the most fantastic levels of tension in her book. There were times when I had to stop reading The Unlikely Tale of Chase and Finnegan so I could take a breath. Twice I anticipated that the storyline was taking me to a place of dreadful sadness. On page 80 I actually put this book aside and left it for a couple of hours. I was so worried about Finnegan and the bad choice he was about to make. It was tough to read all the ways Finnegan misunderstands his new family. It broke my heart when he thought their packing boxes meant they were tossing him away just like his previous owner Samuel. 

I am very conflicted about zoos and using animals to perform for visitors but putting those concerns to one side I love the relationship of Finnegan and Chase; I loved the way Finnegan describes or makes sense of the world and especially of human behaviour through his sense of smell; and the gently unfolding friendship between the young cheetah cub Chase and Finnegan. Listening to some of the birds in my neighborhood the other day I wondered if birds can understand one another. I am not sure if dogs and cheetahs can talk in 'real life' but as a reader I loved the way Chase and Finnegan share their own life stories and worries. Finnegan really cares about Chase - he gives her such a sweet nickname - Puffball.

The cheetah cub makes an odd noise. It’s not a meow. He thought she would meow because she is a cat. It’s a sound more like one a bird would make. It makes him want to laugh. He sticks his tongue farther out of his mouth, edging closer to her. “Your name is Chase?” She doesn’t answer. And she doesn’t make the chirping noise again, either. “How old are you?” he asks. The cub freezes. “You know I can see you,” he says. “Can you talk? Are you understanding me? I don’t know how to speak cat.” And then he adds, “Or bird. Are you speaking bird?”

I loved that Finnegan was a rescue dog with a hidden past; so many bad things can happen to dogs, and they can't tell their new homes about them! At least Finnegan can confide in Chase when his humans don't quite understand why he is so upset when they are packing up to move to a new home. Ms Yingling

At its heart this is a book that explores trust, communication, belonging, fear, self-doubt, and the ways we try to make sense of our world.

One of the strange things that happens to me when I read an eBook (on a Kindle or other device) is that I am reluctant to jump to the back of the book which is something I do with a paper book - reading the author notes either before I begin a book or while I am taking the journey. All the way through The Unlikely Tale of Chase and Finnegan I kept hoping that bringing together a cheetah and a stray dog would be based on real events - and (spoiler alert) yes, it is. 

Author Note: A few summers ago, I was visiting the Cincinnati Zoo with my daughters. We went to watch the cheetah run, and during the show, I learned about the practice of pairing cheetahs with rescue dogs. At some zoos across the country, cheetahs are matched with dogs to aid in their social development by becoming their playmates and companions. The dogs and cheetahs often become quite bonded as a result.

Blurb from the author page: Finnegan is a rescue dog with a broken heart. Chase is an anxious cheetah cub, newly orphaned. The two animals couldn't be more different. But one day, they are brought together for the unlikeliest of reasons: Finnegan must help Chase gain the confidence she needs to perform as part of an educational program for children at a zoo. Finnegan and Chase have each suffered losses and have trouble trusting. Yet somehow, they are just what the other needs. But if Finnegan isn’t able to help Chase overcome her fears, he won’t just be letting Chase down–he could be risking his new home as well.

The Unlikely Tale of Chase and Finnegan is a book to read and enjoy either alone, or in a family as a read aloud or as a shared book in a class. Because this book is very new and only available in hardcover (AUS$37-UAS$45) you will have to wait for the paperback to arrive here in Australia. 

I am not in favour of always dissecting and using a text to 'teach' things but there are some truly wonderful sentences in this book that you could share with a writing group:

His heart beats quickly beneath his rib cage and his belly rumbles. He shivers. The wind continues to howl, whipping and slicing and whooshing. The tree trunks bend and curve. With his paws, he digs to make space beneath a soggy log. He flops down, his belly resting on the wet, muddy earth.

Chase’s mother moves like liquid sunshine, like something molten instead of solid. It is mesmerizing to watch her.

Jasmine Warga beautifully describes all the different smells and the way Finnegan interprets them: 

His scent, which changed with his mood. But when he was happy, he smelled like oranges and soap. It was a good smell. The dog loved that smell.

The dog watches the stranger. His scent is soap and sweat. It is sandalwood and grassy soccer fields and chocolate cake.

He inhales the air. He smells the candle. He smells leftover food in the refrigerator. Mmm, he’s pretty sure it’s something cheesy. He loves cheese. Cheese is good. Cheese is happiness.

Finnegan has learned that Ryan, underneath all the spices, almost always smells faintly of chocolate cake, but the scent grows stronger when he is happy.

I picked up this book because Colby Sharp said it was fantastic! He is so right. 

Jasmine Warga sent Colby's Grade Five class 25 signed copies of her book.

An endearing, deeply moving story of healing. Kirkus Star review

"Jasmine Warga's brilliant and heartfelt storytelling made my heart soar. While spending time with Chase and Finnegan, words like friendship, family, connection, love, light, and joy kept racing through my mind. Most of all, the story filled me with HOPE!" ―John Schu, librarian and New York Times best-selling author of Louder Than Hunger

"An uplifting and heartwarming story about friendship and the way it can change lives for creatures great and small; sure to leave an impact long after the last page. Hand to fans of Katherine Applegate’s One and Only and Rosanne Parry’s Voice of the Wilderness series." ―School Library Journal (starred review).

Companion books:

The One and Only Ivan; The One and Only Bob; The One and Only Ruby; 

The One and Only family

Song of a Thousand Seas

Odder

The Way of Dog

Jasmine Warga recommends this book:

Jasmine Warga is such a talent - her books are all wonderful but also so varied.

A Strange thing Happened at Cherry Hall

A Rover's Story

Other words for home

The Emperor's Elephant by C Walter Hodges

"Long ago in the city of Bagdad there lived an elephant. His name was Abu-ul-Abbas - or Abu for short. He was the biggest of all the elephants belonging to the Caliph who then ruled Bagdad. ... The Caliph's name was Haroun of Raschid. He was the most famous of all the rulers of the Eastern world. ... At the same time, far away in the West, there was another empire ruled by a mighty Emperor called Charles the Great. (He is often known nowadays as Charlemagne)."

Three ambassadors have arrived in Bagdad with gifts of gold and ivory. They are amazed to see elephants - no one from the West at this time had seen such creatures. The Caliph (in a gesture that feels both diplomatic and egotistical) decides to gift his largest elephant to Charles the Great. The journey is long - travelling through different cities and countries and across the ocean. Abu is accompanied by his young handler Selim. 

Image source (three images in this post) Full Table

In this picture book version Abu arrives to great fanfare and later he travels with the Emperor to war. 

"He became one of the wonders of the Western Empire, as the Caliph had promised, and he lived in fame and comfort with his friend Selim to look after him."

In reality "Abul-Abbas lived for at least eight years after his arrival, according to later accounts. In 810, the elephant accompanied Charlemagne’s army during a campaign against the Danes, when he died suddenly near the Rhine, but the exact cause is not known. Scholars have suggested illness or cold weather as likely factors. Nevertheless, his death ended a remarkable journey that had carried him across Asia, the Middle East, and Europe." History Skills

Charlemagne’s contemporary was a man named Harun al-Rashid, the caliph of Baghdad, who ruled over Baghdad and the Abbasid Caliphate from 786 CE until he died in 809. Well-respected and regarded as a “wise and just ruler,” Harun al-Rashid was a patron of the arts, music, and poetry throughout his life. During his reign, Baghdad flourished in terms of architecture, where Harun al-Rashid built the most beautiful palace of his time in the city, and his reign was one of peace and stability. These rulers had one thing in common: their thirst for knowledge. They both pushed for education. Charlemagne insisted on improving literacy among his subjects as well as their learning of Latin. Meanwhile, Harun al-Rashid’s patronage of the arts and literature followed his desire to establish his House of Wisdom. This House, where books from far and wide were compiled and translated into Arabic, was an institution that could be compared with the Library of Alexandria. Charlemagne and Harun al-Rashid were curious about the world around them hundreds of years before the Renaissance. The Collector

This book is from 1975. I found it in a library because I have been sorting and culling pictures of book covers. You could easily overlook this book because first of all it does look old, and secondly there is no back matter, so unless you are curious, as I was, you may have no idea that Charlemagne was actually gifted a real elephant. This is a book that you should share with your class followed by the two other titles below. A book like The Emperor's Elephant is a fantastic way to bring history to life for young students. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time dipping into this aspect of world history.

Companion book:

The Greatest Treasure of Charlemagne the King

This book reminded me of this wonderful title:

A Giraffe for France

C. Walter Hodges first came to prominence as the author/illustrator of Columbus Sails in 1939, which the “Junior Bookshelf” hailed as “The best book never to have been awarded the Carnegie Medal.” Widely acclaimed for the treatment of its subject matter, its powerful narration, and accompanying dramatic line illustrations, Columbus Sails was the first of a number of vivid historical novels written and illustrated by Hodges, including The Namesake (nominated for the 1964 Carnegie Medal), The Marsh King (1967), and The Overland Launch (1969). He is internationally recognised both for his indispensable and learned books about the Elizabethan theatre (for which he gained the Kate Greenaway Medal for illustration in 1964) and his vital illustrations to other authors' texts. 

I now discover he did the cover of one of my favourite childhood books - The Little White Horse by Elizabeth Goudge and other famous covers such as The Silver Sword. 

The Elephant and the Piano by Colette Hiller illustrated by Habila Adani

"As the music floated up into the air, Bonti shifted and swayed. 

He made delicate shapes with his trunk and circles on the group with his foot."

Bookseller blurb: Some stories are true. Others are make-believe. And some true stories are so amazing that it seems they must be make-believe even when they are not... This is one of those stories. In a sanctuary in Thailand lived an elephant called Bonti. Short-tempered and destructive, Bonti was alone - the other elephants (and humans) knew to keep their distance. But when a musician came to play the piano for Bonti, something incredible happened... The Elephant and the Piano tells the spectacular true story of Paul Barton and the elephants who loved to hear him play.

Here is the website for the author where you can read more about this book. The illustrator Nabila Adani lives in Jakarta Indonesia. I previously talked about her book Noah's New Home.

This story is based on the true story of Paul Barton who took a piano into the jungle in Thailand. Watch this video (it runs for 20 minutes and could be useful for teachers and it does have advertising sorry).

In 2011 Paul visited a sanctuary called Elephant's World. There he met an older elephant who seemed sad and withdrawn. Paul wondered if music might help him feel better. And it turns out, it did! ... Since then Paul has played piano for many elephants. If you have time the true story of this book was made into a documentary called 'Music for Elephants'.  Here is the trailer.

The Elephant and the Piano is a picture book that you might just read once and perhaps not think about too deeply but then you will reach the final pages with back notes about this true story and that is sure to pique the interest of your class or young reading companion. There is so much more to this book than just a simple story of a man playing a piano for an elephant. This is a book that warrants deeper exploration of the true story and with older students it will raise issues of animal welfare, exploitation, and even cruelty. 

Which piano pieces would you play to an elephant?  This could be a terrific discussion to have with your class or music group. I can imagine sharing five or six choices and then asking your students to pick the one they think an elephant would respond to and perhaps even enjoy. In this video he plays Elgar and Beethoven (6 minutes you could show part of this to your class); and in this video he plays Chopin, Bach and Schubert.  You could so easily link this book and the music with our 2026 CBCA slogan "Symphony of Stories". Why not listen to Sans Saens: The Elephant from Carnival of the Animals - this video has visuals for younger students (Cello and Piano).

Further reading:

ABC Classic

Green Matters

Animalko

Sometimes stories are make-believe, other times they are true. This is one of the latter even though it might well appear to be imagined. Books for Keeps

Hiller’s text strikes an ideal balance, providing enough detail to ground the story while maintaining a gentle, accessible pace for young readers. The backmatter enriches the narrative with information about the real Paul Barton, whose ongoing work playing piano for rescue elephants continues today. This inspiring account demonstrates how one person’s compassion and creativity can profoundly impact even the most angst-ridden soul. Kirkus

Something else you could think about in relation to this book if you work in a school library. Where will you put this book? It is a based on a true story so I agree with the library where I found this book because they have put it with other stories about elephants and not into their huge fiction/picture book collection. People talk about abandoning Dewey as a way to organise books in a school library but personally I feel Dewey is a good system especially if you use it with numbers after the decimal point and you of course make it work for your collection and your students. [636.96] is the Dewey number for zoo animals and elephants and the addition of one more number correctly puts this book with other books about the care of elephants (animal husbandry) [636.967]. At this same number and so on the same shelf you will find these three books (and probably others):

How to Move a Zoo

Sato and the elephants by Juanita Havill illustrated by Jean and Mou-sien Tseng

I picked this book up from a library discard pile. Sato and the elephants was published in 1993 and the library copy was purchased in 1995 which means it has been in the library for over thirty years. I hope in that time the world has become a safer place for elephants.

Sato watches his father carving ivory. He really wants to become as skilled as his father. He does know ivory comes from elephant but it takes a terrible experience to really give him an understanding of this.

He buys a large piece of scarce ivory from a trader for a very high price. As he works over many days on his carving he sees something lodged inside the ivory itself - it is a bullet. Sato's dreams are then filled with the real scene - elephants living in on the wild plains of Africa. When he wakes up he makes a vow to never use ivory again. Marble will now be his new medium for carving. 

I don't imagine this book will be easy to find but if I were to share it in my library I would read it to a Grade five or six group as a discussion starter about animal rights, animal exploitation, and the continuing issues of poaching. You might be able to access this BTN (Behind the News ABC TV) program from 2016. Here are a couple of companion books to explore the topic of animal rights:

Ivan the remarkable true story of the shopping mall gorilla

Jean and Mou-Sien were classmates at the Fine Art Department of the National Normal University in Taiwan. After graduation, they married and worked as teachers, designers, and illustrators. They also worked for a UNICEF Project in Taiwan, editing and designing 165 picture books-thirty of which they illustrated themselves. Their book Lovely Toys won the 1971 Golden Book Award for the best picture book illustration. Mou-Sien also won the Golden Goblet Award for Excellent Achievement at Chinese Painting in 1990. Here is one of their books which is by Margaret Mahy:

Find more books about elephants in these two posts from my friend at Kinderbookswitheverything:

International Day of Action for Elephants in Zoos; and Elephant Day.

Dandy the Highway Lion by Stephanie Sorrell illustrated by Roxana de Rond

Amidst an abundance of silly scrapes, camaraderie and merciless baddies, Sorrell has also 

crafted a story with an unrelenting moral compass. Just Imagine review

Hattie and Ben are left to their own devices in London while their parents are busy with work. Absent parents are always a good story device if you want to create heroic children who take on wild adventures and this book is no exception.

Walking through the park the children play a game of I spy. Hattie does not believe Ben when he says he has seen a real lion!

This was clearly no ordinary lion. He hadn’t noticed them, as he was busy performing what Hattie thought must be exercises of some sort. They reminded her of the movements recommended in the magazines her mother sometimes bought. Calisthenics, she thought they were called. The lion would have looked graceful, except that he was dressed in a black tailcoat, with a long slit at the back for his tail to poke through. Under this, he wore a waistcoat and a wine-red cravat, which was like a tie but wider and bulkier, almost a scarf. What spoilt the effect was that he wore nothing at all below his . . . would you call it a waist on a lion? She noticed a very large and glossy top hat lying a few feet away. She supposed the lion must have removed it to stop it falling off while he did . . . well, whatever it was he was doing. 

Mr Dandy Paws really is a highwayman. He is determined to end the trade in exotic animals because of his own terrible life experience:

"My earliest childhood was spent in a vast warehouse in a small cage with my mother, almost always in darkness along with hundreds of other creatures ... the warehouse made its money from breeding. Most of its inhabitants were mothers with their young living in hopelessness and misery, until their infants were taken from them and sold."

Young Dandy was sold to Tower Zoo but he managed to escape. Now he lives in a well-appointed apartment with a sheep for a butler and a collection of fine cravats. By night he robs wealthy people to fund his real purpose which is to find and destroy the 'breeders'. Hetty and Ben now join his group and through careful detective work they locate the diabolical couple Mr and Mrs Pravusson who are running this despicable enterprise. All of this feels like a good old-fashioned melodrama and the character names are just perfect - Miss Prudence Postlethwaite (Private investigator); Lord Fossleton (friend to Dandy - a wealthy slightly confused older man); Mr and Mrs Davenport (the distracted parents of Hattie and Ben); Leonard (Butler to Dandy - he is a sheep); and the Vickers-Watlings (owners of an animal menagerie).

You probably know I do judge books by their covers. I saw this book in the library a few months ago but the cover didn't appeal to me. Last week I decided to borrow and read Dandy the Highway Lion and am so glad I did. This is a fun book that will take you on a wild, fanciful romp through the streets of London accompanied by a very well-dressed lion, two daring children, a small sheep and a huge brown bear. All of these disparate characters have one purpose. To find and expose the illegal trade in exotic animals. You will cheer their successes and boo their enemies - just like a good old-fashioned melodrama.  This would be a fun book to read in a family for readers aged 9+.  If you are sharing this book with readers in your library it would be good to really unpack the cover - notice the lion in fine clothes, the way the two children are dressed in old-fashioned clothes, the park fountain and light, and the tiny (knowing) pigeon in the corner. You could also talk about the colours used in the design - do these give the book an old-fashioned feel? Compare this with other 'old fashioned book covers' such as these:

I was enraptured by this quirky, whirlwind journey of friendship, justice and fighting for freedom. Set in the 1920s London, Sorrell’s voice is distinct, with a quick witted, old-fashioned charm and an element of mischief throughout. Just Imagine

Despite being a fun, roguish adventure, Stephanie's Sorrell's novel tackles big themes. In the same way Dandy sits at the centre of the story, so does animal welfare. Not only does Sorrell hold humans to account over their treatment of wild creatures, she raises a discussion around animals kept in captivity, one that the animal characters contribute to through their voices on the page. Sorrell shows rather than tells, allowing readers to draw their own conclusions on the subject but the result is hugely thought-provoking and there is a great twist at the end. This is magical realism at its best - perfect for adventure lovers, animal lovers and those drawn to the dangerous enigma of highwaymen.  Breadcrumb Forest

Read a book extract here. 

Bookseller blurb: Lonely after their family moves to London, Ben and Hattie are delighted to find a new friend in the park: a talking lion wearing a top hat, dress suit and red cravat. But not only is Mr Dandy Paws an exceptionally well-dressed feline, but he’s also a highway lion who robs from those who are cruel to animals and invests the proceeds in animal justice. But with a P.I. on his tail, Dandy’s latest scheme—a daring break-out at London Zoo—could get Ben and Hattie into far more trouble than they bargained for ...

The Lost Whale by Hannah Gold illustrated by Levi Penfold

Rio's mum is very unwell. Rio has been coping with his mum and her strange behaviour all his life. Rio desperately wants his mother to be happy and he thinks it is up to him to make this happen. But now things have become way too hard for his mum, who is a concert violinist. His mum needs to go and stay in a special hospital in London and Rio is sent to Los Angeles and into the care of a grandmother he does not know.

His grandmother gives Rio a box of bis mother's treasures. Inside the box he finds a drawing of an amazing whale. It is named White Beak. Rio has very mixed up emotions and he is unable to communicate his fears to anyone but he is sure if he can find this whale his mother will be well again and they will be united. Luckily he is now living near the ocean and equally luckily he finds the perfect friend. Marina is the daughter of a man (Birch) who runs the local whale watching business. 

I did read The Lost Whale in one sitting and I enjoyed it but in some ways this book feels very similar to others with this same theme of healing a parent with mental illness; the dangers of ocean pollution and plastic to wild creatures like whales; and the journey of a young child as he tries to heal the hurt from the past. It felt a little too obvious to make Rio's mood match the mood of the ocean and a little contrived perhaps when he found the whale and then dived into the open ocean to have a special moment with this majestic creature but I don't think young readers 10+ will notice those tiny issues. At times I found Rio was little too angry and selfish especially when his grandmother was so kind and patient with him, but I enjoyed the final scenes where Rio, Marina, Birch (her dad) and his Grandmother (Fran) head out to find and ultimately rescue their precious whale. 

The theme of saving and being saved is definitely evident here, whatever your age. The adult will go on from thinking it's a book about saving the mother to saving Rio, but there is also the aspect of saving the whales and the entire ocean. The Book Bag

This book does contain references to mental illness but it is not as confronting as The Illustrated Mum by Jacqueline Wilson. Rio's confusion is very similar to Jack in the book Small as an Elephant. My advance copy of The Lost Whale says this book was published on the 3rd March but I see from an online bookseller it will actually be released on 4th May, 2022. 

The Lost Whale is a companion volume (although this one has different characters) to The Last Bear. One special feature of both books are the splendid illustrations by Levi Pinfold. 

Look for these if you enjoy The Lost Whale:

The Truth of Me (absent parents who are musicians and an important grandparent)

Small as an Elephant

And two picture book companions would be:

The Whales' Song

The Tale of the Whale

The Unicorn in the Barn by Jacqueline K Ogburn illustrated by Rebecca Green

Blurb: “A tender tale of love, loss, and the connections we make, The Unicorn in the Barn shows us that sometimes ordinary life takes extraordinary turns.”

This book begins with a pertinent quote from Saint Francis of Assisi:

“Not to hurt our humble brethren is our first duty to them, but to stop there is not enough. We have a higher mission: to be of service to them whenever they require it.”

Eric, his dad and brother live on a farm near some woods. Recently they have been forced to sell a portion of the family land as a way to help Eric’s grandmother. Sadly, due to failing health, Grandma Harper has moved into an aged care facility. A lady vet and her daughter Allegra have bought the land and grandma’s house.  Kris Brancusi is no ordinary vet. Eric sleeps late one evening in his treehouse and wakes to find an injured unicorn standing nearby. He follows the unicorn down to the barn near his Grandmother’s house and when he arrives he makes a very surprising discovery. He sees Dr Brancusi leading the unicorn into the barn. 

The unicorn is a beautiful creature:

“White and glowing, with slender legs and a long curved neck”

“Looking at it I got the most amazing feeling of comfort and happiness and excitement, all rolled into one.”

“Then I noticed a strange smell, like roses and pine and new turned dirt.”

There are some other special things about this unicorn. She is expecting twins and her horn can heal the sick but using her horn is dangerous for The Lady or Moonpearl as the children name her. Then Allegra and Eric make an exciting discover – the white hairs they comb from the unicorn also seem to have healing properties but should they use them, and what are the implications of this especially when Eric takes some to his precious Grandmother in the hope her pain and arthritis will be cured.

Jacqueline K Ogburn has included some interesting magical creatures in her story. Along with the unicorn there is a Cheshire cat named Timothy, a goose that lays golden eggs called Prissy, a squonk which is “a cross between a duck-billed platypus and a toad.” They were first discovered by Paul Bunyan’s lumberjacks.

Who is the audience for this book? There is some deep sadness towards the end and I had an issue with Mr Harper constantly smoking also this is a fairly long book (290 pages) so I would recommend this book for readers aged 9+. I read the whole book in one sitting. I enjoyed the way Eric was so calm and gentle with all the animals but especially with Moonpearl. Eric is a mature boy with a kind heart. I recommend this book for middle primary because there is a very tense scene towards the end when hunters arrive in the woods with guns. I especially raced through the final pages desperate to reach the hoped for happy ending. 

You can read an interview with Jacqueline Ogburn here.  I was excited to see Ms Yingling loved The Unicorn in the Barn.  I always appreciate reading her reviews and appreciate her honest thoughts. Her reviews contain headings - strengths, weaknesses and what I really think. I was thrilled she found no weaknesses with this book.  

This was delightful! I would have adored this when I was in upper elementary school. There is a pregnant unicorn, for heaven's sake! And a talking Cheshire cat! Eric's relationship with his grandmother was very sweet, and while this was sad, it wasn't hand-wringingly soppy. Ms Yingling

Despite the presence of supernatural creatures, Eric’s quiet, genuine, first-person voice tells a realistic story of family love and discovering one’s true self, the presence of the unicorn and other magical creatures adding just a touch of whimsy to a story about very real emotions... Kirkus

Saving Winslow by Sharon Creech

"Okay," Louie said. I accept the mission."

"What mission?"

"To save this pitiful motherless donkey."

Louie is exactly the right person to care for a new-born baby donkey. Yes, he has not had a good track record with other pets and wild animals, but there is a deep emotional tenderness about Louie and even though everyone doubts the young donkey will live through the first night, Louie never gives up. 

"I don't want to watch it die,' his mother said
'No!' Louie said. 'No dying. I told you, I accept the mission.'
The pitiful creature tentatively touched its nose to Louie's. 'Awww,'
'Don't get attached,' his mother warned. 'You're going to be heartbroken when it - '
'Shh,' Louie said. 'Don't let it hear you.' He asked his father if it was a boy or a girl.
'Boy,' he said. 'Poor thing."

Louie is determined to save the little donkey. He names him Winslow. Later we learn how this name connects with Louie's own difficult start in life.

Louie is a real kid. Sure he lives with a terrific mum and dad and has some loyal friends but his brother is away serving as a soldier and everyone deeply misses him.  Gus misses his family too. He write brief letters but always with the sign off "Remember me." There are reminders of his brother all over the house - they think about him every day.

Living near Louie is Nora. Nora has had some deep sadness in her short life too. Her premature baby brother has died and so did the family dog. Sharon Creech does not need to spell this out but it is very clear Nora is scared of being hurt. She likes Winslow, the baby donkey, but she is wary of making a connection because, in her view, it looks as though he might die too. Yet she is drawn to the little fellow. His fur is soft and he keeps butting into her boots and making friendly noises. How can she resist him?

Colby Sharp talked about this book and the wonderful thing that happened for all the students in his school.  One of his students loved Saving Winslow and he book talked it with all his class and it became such a popular book. An adult listening to Colby talk with passion about the urgency of getting books into kids hands decided to buy 60 copies - one for each child in Grade 5. Such a generous and special thing to do.

You might know that I am a HUGE (say this loudly) fan of Sharon Creech. I knew I just had to buy this book and buy it NOW! The power of the writing here comes both from what is said and what is left unsaid. I love that the reader is allowed to 'join the dots.' When you pick up this book take a look at chapter 10. It is titled Freeze that Scene. Louie records two contrasting scenes into his memory. One is of sunflowers growing against a white fence under a blue sky. This scene is made even more perfect when a small blue bird lands on a stalk.

"And now the scene appeared even more perfect to him: an indigo bunting atop a golden sunflower beside a white fence beneath a blue sky with drifting white clouds."

Does this sound poetic?  It should. If you know the writing of Sharon Creech you are sure to be hearing echoes of words from Love that Dog.

That same day Louie sees a thin, disheveled man in a tattered army jacket sleeping on a park bench. "On his way home, Louie slid a small brown bag next to the bench. In the bag were two rolls and a candy bar." If we didn't know it already it is very clear Louie has a kind heart.

You can read the first 6 chapters on the author web site. I highly recommend you do this (now!) You can read about the inspiration for this story in an interview in the School Library Journal.

Another outstanding and unforgettable story that will work well both as a read-aloud for younger listeners and as a rich offering for those recently transitioned to chapter books.  Kirkus Star review

Set in an unspecified small-town past, largely free of adults and rich with unscheduled play time, the story is told simply but subtly, celebrating the unexpected strength of the vulnerable. Horn Book Star review

SAVING WINSLOW explores the balance between holding tight to those we love most and recognizing that holding on may not be best for them. SAVING WINSLOW is a thoroughly enjoyable read and a future classic in the genre of children and the animals they love. KidsReads

Take a look at my review of other books by Sharon.  Moo, Love that Dog, Heartbeat, Granny Torrelli makes Soup and The Boy on the Porch.

Compare the cover of Saving Winslow with Moo, Love that Dog and Hate that Cat. These four books would make a great set for any library or home collection.

Here is an indigo bunting - I just had to show you one because they look so amazing!

Image source: https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/indigo-bunting

The one and only Ivan by Katherine Applegate

The One and only Ivan is one of the saddest books I have ever read.  I hoped when I reached the end the sadness would lift but it does not, well not completely.  Ivan is only partly free - he is now living in a zoo but at least he has the company of other gorillas. Having said that I do think everyone should read this book. Books should make us feel things.  Being sad is a real emotion and not one we should shy away from or avoid.  Ivan is a hero in the true sense of the word. He has wise words to share. At times this book feels like a verse novel.

"I have been in my domain for nine thousand eight hundred and fifty-five days.
Alone
For a while when I was young and foolish, I thought I was the last gorilla on earth.
I tried not to dwell on it.  Still, it's hard to stay upbeat when you thing there are no more of you.
Then one night after I watched a movie ... I saw a lush forest. I heard birds murmuring. The grass moved. The trees rustled.
Then I saw him.  He was a bit threadbare and scrawny and not as good-looking as I am, to be honest. But sure enough, he was a gorilla."

Ivan, Stella and later Ruby are part of a collection of animals that live in a shopping mall.  This is a circus that does not travel. There are shows three times a day and gift stores where you can buy souvenirs of your visit. I found this so very very sad. The poster advertising their act is faded, the shopping mall is run down, crowds are dwindling and sadly the man in charge has become vicious.

Here is the web site for this book.  Take a look at the opening video it is so beautiful and poignant and contains some fabulous quotes from authors and reviewers.

I have been hearing about this book all year.  I read the whole book in one sitting.  I am certain the sentiments of this book will linger with me for many years.  I watched a video of a class in America. They were listening to their teacher read a list of top five books. I guess it was the top five for 2012.  There is one little girl close to the front of the camera. She can hardly contain her excitement as she anticipates and hopes The One and Only Ivan will be named the number one book!  When it is, the whole class just explodes!

Here is an interview with the author. Here is a set of teaching ideas. Read an extract on the publisher's web site.

The other hero in this story is Bob, a stray dog who is a secret companion for Ivan.  Ivan promises to take care of young Ruby.

"I shouldn't have made that promise, Bob.  I just wanted ... to make Stella happy, I guess. But I can't save Ruby. I can't even save myself.
I flop onto my back.  The cement is always cold, but tonight it hurts.
Bob leaps on to my belly. 'You are the One and Only Ivan,' he says. 'Mighty Silverback.'
He licks my chin, and he is not even checking for leftovers.
'Say it,' Bob commands.
I look away.
'Say it, Ivan.'
I don't answer so Bob licks my nose until I can't stand it any longer.
'I am the One and Only Ivan,' I mutter.
'And don't you ever forget it,' he says."

On the final pages of this book you will read the astonishing fact that this book is based on real events. There really was a gorilla who was held in a shopping mall for twenty-seven years until community action saved him. Here are some words from the Kirkus review.

Utterly believable, this bittersweet story, complete with an author’s note identifying the real Ivan, will inspire a new generation of advocates.