Bayberry Island An adventure about friendship and the journey home

Henry Cole, 1955-

Book - 2017

Twig the squirrel sets out on a sailboat with his friends to reunite Char with his dragon family and faces danger and adventure as he and the crew work to find their destination.

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Location Call Number   Status
Children's Room jFICTION/Cole Henry Checked In
Subjects
Published
New York, NY : Katherine Tegen Books, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers [2017]
Language
English
Main Author
Henry Cole, 1955- (author, -)
Edition
First edition
Physical Description
156 pages : illustrations ; 19 cm
ISBN
9780062245519
Contents unavailable.
Review by Booklist Review

The adventures begun in Brambleheart (2016) continue as chipmunk Twig endeavors to return the baby dragon, Char, to his home with the help of Lily, a rabbit, and Basil, a weasel. As the four friends set sail on the Spirit, they grow concerned for the well-being of Char, who is listless and not eating. A sense of urgency descends on the group, which pulls together as a team to navigate their tiny ship and get Char home. Obstacles some minor, some dramatic ­impede their progress, but kindly creatures met along the way always lend a hand. Cole has an excellent sense of how to write a compelling adventure for young or sensitive readers. Gentle suspense is woven into scenes to keep the plot moving forward, but the story is firmly anchored in its warm portrayal of friendship. Storms, shipwreck, betrayal all are surmountable with friends by your side. Adding to the story's charm are Cole's pencil illustrations, softly depicting the small animals' bravery in a huge, unpredictable world. A sweet, satisfying adventure.--Smith, Julia Copyright 2017 Booklist

From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review

Gr 3-6-In this slim sequel to Brambleheart, Cole picks up the adventures of young chipmunk Twig, his rabbit friend Lily, and their nemesis-turned-accomplice Basil the weasel right where they left off, sailing out to sea in a found boat. On a mission to return lost baby dragon Char to his family, the young animals cheerfully leave everything they know behind, braving unknown creatures, high seas, and, finally, shipwreck with resourceful optimism. Exposition and character development are almost nonexistent, and readers who skipped Brambleheart may find themselves a little out of sorts. However, Cole's writing is actually more suited to straightforward adventure, and this sequel is a fun and fast-moving, if not deep, read. Detailed pencil drawings enhance and enrich the simple text. VERDICT An enjoyable read-aloud or easy middle grade selection for readers of gentle nature fantasy.-Katya Schapiro, Brooklyn Public Library © Copyright 2017. 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 Kirkus Book Review

Three woodland animals take a journey to bring a baby dragon back to his home.When Twig, a chipmunk, left home with his adopted baby dragon and found a ship-in-a-bottle that could be reassembled outside the bottle (Brambleheart: A Story About Finding Treasure and the Unexpected Magic of Friendship, 2016), he set off bravely for parts unknown. Now Twig, his best friend, Lily (a rabbit), and their enemy-inexplicably-turned-friend, Basil (a weasel), are sailing down a river, trying to bring baby dragon Char back to his homewith no hint where that may be. Fragile Char's susceptible to hunger and cold; he understands when the animals talk to him, but he doesn't reply, not even when he revives after eating fish that Lily catches by weaving a net. The adventure goes from river to open ocean to island. They find Char's family and an old enemy finds them, clarifying (grimly) an emotionally confusing event from Brambleheart. Dangers are all overcome, either with ingenuity and teamwork or with help in the form of a beaver, a sea turtle, or an adult dragon appearing exactly when needed. Cole's pencil drawings appear on almost every spread, earnest, immediate, and expressive. They help with storytelling, as when readers can discern that a mysterious, ship-blocking wall is a beaver dam several pages before the text says so. Animal fantasy adventure with a gentle feel. (Fantasy. 6-10) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.