Review by Booklist Review
A workman in Australia finds Jimmy, a six-month-old joey (baby koala), lying by a road. Staff at the Koala Hospital check his health and give him to a trained volunteer, who raises him until he is old enough to live with other koalas in the facility's outdoor tree area. When he has adapted to that environment and is ready to live independently, his volunteer releases him in a protected forest area. The story ends there, but the book continues with features such as a fast-facts page, a photographer's note, and a map of Australia that indicates where koalas live, where Jimmy was found, and where he was released. Apart from the lightly fictionalized story of Joey's early life in the wild and the overuse of exclamation points, the short text works pretty well, but the large color photos of adorable koalas steal the show. The subtle leaf pattern on solid-color pages is an attractive feature of the book's design. An eye-catching book with a photogenic subject.--Phelan, Carolyn Copyright 2010 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
In a hopeful story about animal rehabilitation in Australia, an orphaned koala joey is rescued and taken to the Koala Hospital. Author Rose and journalist/filmmaker Kelly chronicle Jimmy's time at the center, where he is fed special formula, sleeps "in a laundry basket filled with soft blankets," and is weighed and measured each week. Photographs (bordered by aboriginal patterns) keep Jimmy front and center as he clutches a volunteer's leg, munches on eucalyptus leaves (they make him "smell like mint candy") and slowly grows accustomed to the hospital trees, where he climbs with other koala residents. An endnote from Kelly describes her research into koalas, the threats facing their populations, and the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital, where Jimmy and koalas like him have received care. Ages 4-8. (July) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 1-4-Irresistibly adorable photographs and a clear, lively text capture the charming story of an orphaned koala infant taken in and raised by a remarkable rescue team at an Australian koala hospital until he was ready for reintroduction to his natural habitat. Sadly, readers are informed, koalas are finding those habitats dwindling, as eucalyptus forests are increasingly being toppled to make way for homes and roads. It was a traffic mishap, in fact, that took the life of Jimmy's mother. This incident is presented in a nonfrightening way for a young audience who should be heartened by the sight of a "koala ambulance" rushing the new orphan to the hospital. Eventually, with the help of expert hospital workers and the loving, home-based care of a devoted volunteer, Jimmy was strong enough to return to the forest. Young readers will be captivated by his tale and cheer for him and his new loving family. The book's attractive design heightens the Australian setting. An endnote explains that the pages' bright background colors reflect those found on the bark of certain eucalyptus trees, and the photo borders include traditional Aboriginal designs. Helpful features include a map of Australia depicting the koala's range; facts about koalas; notes from the photographer; where one may see koalas in the U.S. and around the world; and ways readers can help these animals. This is a terrific choice for libraries and can be paired with other books about wildlife rescues.-Carol Goldman, Queens Library, NY (c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
Simply and eloquently, this book follows young koala Jimmy as he's rescued from his dead mother's side, taken to the Koala Hospital in New South Wales, and rehabilitated for many months. Evocative photos--some with Aboriginal folk-art borders--illustrate this process, which culminates in Jimmy's release into the wild. A map/fact page and photographer's note conclude the book. Reading list, websites. (c) Copyright 2014. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
After being hit by a car, an orphaned 6-month-old joey is rescued, rehabilitated in a koala hospital and then a home, taught to climb and live outside with other koalas, and finally returned to the wild. This heartwarming, true story of an irresistible marsupial, not a true bear but with all a bear cub's appealing qualities, is illustrated with photographs taken during the filming of a documentary about the Koala Hospital in Port Macquarie, Australia. While recording the joey's growth and development in the smoothly told narrative that accompanies the photos, the authors also weave in some general information about the species: where they live, what they eat, how they grow first inside their mothers' pouches. The design suggests a scrapbook of the joey's life, decorated with traditional Australian Aboriginal designs and using the colors of eucalyptus bark and patterns of eucalyptus leaves as page backgrounds. The illustrations focus on the joey; people, though vital to the animal's recovery, are mostly out of the picture. Final pages include maps, a few facts about koalas, a photographer's note and extensive suggestions for learning more about this iconic but little-known species. Unfortunately, these don't include Sandra Markle's more informative Finding Home, illustrated by Alan Marks (2008). Stories of animal rescue abound, but the cuteness factor here gives Jimmy's story special appeal. (Informational picture book. 4-8)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
