  | Bird & Squirrel on the run! Book 1 (Bird & Squirrel) Author: Burks, James | |
| Price: $18.18 | ||
Summary:
Bird and Squirrel outwit Cat and become best friends in this zany adventure. Squirrel is afraid of his own shadow. Bird doesn't have a care in the world. And Cat wants to eat Bird and Squirrel. Of course, he'll have to catch them first, and that's not going to be easy. Join this trio as they head south for the winter in a hilarious road trip. But watch out! Cat is waiting around every bend, and he's one pesky feline.
| Accelerated Reader Information: Interest Level: MG Reading Level: 2.00 Points: .5 Quiz: 153016 | Reading Counts Information: Interest Level: 3-5 Reading Level: 2.60 Points: 3.0 Quiz: 57021 | |
Full Text Reviews:
Booklist - 05/15/2012 Bird doesn’t mind that all the other birds already flew south for the winter. He’ll get there, eventually. This same free-as-a-bird attitude lands him in the path of Squirrel, who loses his entire winter store of acorns while rescuing Bird from Cat. With no other choice, Squirrel sets off with Bird on a road trip south for the winter. Meanwhile, they are, ahem, doggedly pursued by the menacing, mute Cat. He is a danger that stalks through the pages, creating real tension and anxiety for skittish Squirrel and young readers alike. Bird and Squirrel’s adventures take them through the forest, over canyons, and even underground—where they meet a rambling, prophesying elderly mole—but their greatest tests are of courage and friendship. Bird’s relentless optimism is tempered by Squirrel’s ceaseless worrying; and Squirrel learns to live by facing death head-on. The easy-to-follow panels offer a great introduction for readers interested in trying their first graphic novel, and the warm, engaging art has the same vibrant energy of a beloved Saturday morning cartoon. - Copyright 2012 Booklist.
Bulletin for the Center... - 10/01/2012 In this full-color graphic novel, brave Bird and timid Squirrel join forces to head south for the winter after Squirrel loses his entire winter cache of nuts in an attempt to rescue Bird from the predatory Cat. Excitement ensues on their migratory journey as the duo faces a waterfall, a storm, angry bees, a snake, and a hawk, not to mention the Wile E. Coyote-like Cat, who keeps coming back for more even though he always gets the worst of it. Happily, the pair safely make it to their southern destination; what’s more, the trip has apparently awakened their thirst for adventure, and the book ends with them taking off into “the great unknown.” There’s little substance or surprise to Burks’ plot, but Bird and Squirrel are engaging partners, the persistent but continually thwarted Cat is both alarming and amusing, and the Looney Tunes-esque action is lively and quick. Burks’ comic-strip-like panels utilize zesty colors, bold compositions, and varying perspectives to create plenty of visual interest. Blocky yellow Bird is as perky as his perpetually raised eyebrows and jaunty head feathers suggest, while square-headed, buck-toothed, blue Squirrel seems constantly worried (frequently with good reason) and keeps his acorn-cap helmet on at all times. With his lime-green eyes and enormous, toothy mouth, bulky orange Cat looks quite menacing, but he becomes increasingly bedraggled, and thus less threatening, as the book goes on. Older fans of Owly and Wormy (BCCB 3/11) might want to give this comical couple a try. JH - Copyright 2012 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois.
