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Little John Crow: (Fixed Layout Edition)

ebook
1 of 1 copy available
1 of 1 copy available

After being abandoned by his animal friends, Little John Crow must come to terms with what it means to be part of a community when you are a vulture.

"Little John Crow is full of energy and color."
People Magazine

"A new children's book by [Ziggy Marley] and his wife, Orly, aims to educate youth on the threats the birds face and the vital ecological role they play."
Audubon Magazine

Little John Crow is a young vulture growing up in Bull Bay on the edge of the Blue Mountains in Jamaica, where he lives with his loving parents Sharil and Rusil Crow. He spends his days playing with his friends, a motley group that includes a snake, George; Missy, the French pigeon; Chiqueen, a chicken hawk; Hummy, the hummingbird; and the Three Little Birds.

One morning while the group of friends is relaxing by a cool river, they start chatting about life, their parents' jobs, and what they want to be when they grow up. As the conversation continues, Little John Crow realizes he has no idea what his parents do for work.

Little John Crow and his friends set out to solve this mystery, but what they discover shocks them—Little John Crow and his vulture parents are scary scavengers! Most of his friends are disgusted when they learn this, and before Little John Crow can even adjust to this news, a terrible tragedy strikes. Feeling lonely and isolated from his friends, the young vulture flees Bull Bay.

After traveling for days, a tired and hungry Little John Crow is fortunate to be found by a group of vultures. With their support and encouragement, the young vulture learns to embrace his future, and after months away, he returns to Bull Bay just in the nick of time to save his home from ruin.

Filled with humor and memorable characters, Little John Crow reminds us of the importance of accepting our differences and remembering that life offers a place and purpose for all of us.

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    • Kirkus

      November 1, 2021
      A young vulture contends with prejudice and learns to embrace his identity. This story begins in the Jamaican Blue Mountains, where willful Little John Crow (who, despite his name, is a vulture) lives with his parents. His friends (several birds and one snake) are introduced with their names and various descriptors (such as "Hummy, the hummingbird, who loved sweets" and "Chiqueen, a feisty chicken hawk")--a lot of information for young readers to retain. Rowe's illustrations present each friend with abundant character, infusing many of these pages with joy. While the younglings discuss what their parents do and what they want to be when they grow up, John realizes he is not aware of his parents' occupations. After offering to help him find out and then realizing his parents are vultures, his friends flee in fear. The remainder of the story revolves around John's learning to accept himself and value who he is. Strangely, some characters use slang, but only one speaks in anything close to Jamaican patois. Though the story is commendable in its attempt to destigmatize vultures, it is full of distracting details, arbitrary moments, questionable assertions ("Your friends will accept you for who you are as long as you accept yourself first"), casual fatphobia, and a heavy-handed message that slows the narrative. Even the levity and enjoyment that Rowe's art brings can't altogether save the book. A skip. (note on vultures) (Picture book. 5-8)

      COPYRIGHT(2021) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Formats

  • OverDrive Read

Languages

  • English

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