FICTION

Time to Roar

by Olivia A Cole (text) & illus. by Jessica Gibson
Bloomsbury. Sept. 2020. 32p. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9781547603701.
COPY ISBN
K-Gr 4–Although the ending is a little vague, this story of speaking up at the right time has merit. Sasha the bear’s favorite place in the world is the meadow in the forest. One day large yellow creatures (bulldozers or backhoes) come and start destroying the forest, but when Sasha goes to roar and stop them, the squirrel says that is not the way. Every forest animal tries to stop the machines, but only when Sasha finds her roar do the yellow creatures leave. Or, it’s the end of the day and time for the workers to go home. Cole has created a beautiful tale of our world and the occasional need to act independently. The plot is not complex and the vocabulary used is simple, with the actions described being shown through detailed illustrations.
VERDICT Cole and Gibson have woven a tale that is not just about protecting nature, but also about working with others so that every voice is heard. A solid tale.
Reviewed by Margaret Kennelly, Urbana-Champaign, IL , Aug 01, 2020

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