Roo is eight, and lives alone with her father, an entomologist. Sometimes a bit lonely, Roo finds pleasure in the birds and animals that live near her home in Queensland, Australia. One day, she rescues a small caterpillar from a floating leaf. Her father identifies it as a birdwing caterpillar and shows her how to care for the fuzzy black and red creature as it grows, pupates, and turns into a gorgeous butterfly. Photo illustrations include a flying-fox bat, a bird called a tawny frogmouth, and a wallaby, as well as the caterpillar/butterfly in all its stages. Most pictures are detailed and charming, although on my screen one or two were too small to see clearly. Roo's relationship with her widowed father is warm and loving, the information about animals and conservation is well presented and convincing. Rationalists may question the plot device in which the adult butterfly returns to Roo with her mate and leaves the child a single egg to care for. Nevertheless, this is a sweet story, gently told, which should appeal to chapter-book readers in grades 2 through 5.
McQuark Reviews
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A young eight-year-old girl discovers life, the meaning of love, and loss, and change. A father guides his daughter through an awakening to life's hardest but unending cycle. Ariana Overton's first children's book is a personal piece; beautifully conceived and enhanced with photos that pull the reader into an adventure with nature. Not only is the story a lesson in living, but a metaphor for life. Little Roo and her kind caring father share in the small joys of being a family. The two teach one another the reality of life's disappointments as a small fuzzy caterpillar guides them to realize the gifts they have been given. Young readers will gain a subtle lesson in caring for the world around them, and some warm fuzzies from the love between a parent and child.
Young Ruth Olivia Overton, thoughtful little Roo, shares her life with her father, Max, a botanist, who works long hours at the university. She spends her alone hours observing the world of nature that her father has taught her to respect and care for. One rainy day, Roo sits in her apartment window in Australia, waiting for her father to come home from work. Bored and curious, she disobeys him and goes out to the nearby park, rescues a castaway caterpillar from certain watery death, and brings it home. In turn, the caterpillar repairs two lonesome hearts.
Under her father's guidance, Roo cares for her little friend as it grows into a furry black caterpillar that spins its cocoon, hatches, and flies off. The warmth between father and daughter is nicely drawn, as are the lessons of living, losing and loving that the returning butterfly and its mate provide.
The book is a lovely dance of fancy and truth.
Reviewed by Sara N. Tanner
For Scribes World Reviews
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A GIFT FOR ROO is a joyful lesson of life, and one equally appropriate for all of us still learning, regardless of age. It is a gentle reminder of life's cycles and celebrations, including the acceptance of death as a new beginning to a cycle.
Roo is a bouncy 7-year-old girl, with a love of nature learned from her biologist father. Bored with being home alone on a rainy day, Roo can't the impulse to traipse across the road to the park. Most days, she doesn't socialize with the other children there, preferring her solitary games with plants, animals and insects. Although Roo longs for a pet, she and her father can't have a dog or cat until they move again.
Having learned a deep love and respect of nature from her father, Roo can't resist the opportunity to save a little black caterpillar from certain drowning. That caterpillar changes her life. She feeds it Dutchman Pipe leaves and carries it about on her shoulder for weeks, until it's time for the caterpillar to undergo the changes of pupae to become a butterfly. Sadly, the day her friend becomes a butterfly, Roo has to learn the lessons of letting go of what and who we love most. But the reward for her choice made the pain worthwhile.
A metaphor of life lessons: Not only does this lovely story teach children the beauty of nature through words and pictures, it also teaches the lessons of the circle of life. I recommend A GIFT FOR ROO for all who are ready to have their hearts touched and their spirits prodded with a gentle reminder that we are all born to do certain things. This story will remind you that happiness is found in the fulfillment of that goal.
Word Weaving doesn't rate books, but if we did, A GIFT FOR ROO would receive five stars!
Word Wrap: A book review by Cindy Penn
www.wordweaving.com
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