Book Review of The Strawberry Thief: A Story of Sparrows
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The Children’s Book Review
What to Expect: Nature, birds, friendship, community, conservation, teamwork.
Based on an iconic William Morris design, this middle-grade novel invites readers to enter into the secret lives of birds as they respond to a human threat to their environment.
Living in a rich and abundantly plentiful field, Bradley the sparrow thinks the only thing he and the other birds need to worry about is birds of prey. However, when men come to dig up the field they live in and clear it for a commercial strawberry crop, the birds realize their utopia may be coming to an end. The men are destroying habitats and have brought cunning tools and weapons to clear all the animals—including the birds—out. However, Bradley is a resourceful bird, determined not to give up without a fight.
Drawing on the different strengths and skills of the many other bird species in their community, Bradley and his friends learn new behaviors, strategize, and work together to find a way to survive the destruction of their home by humans. They outwit ceramic owls and a vicious dog meant to scare them away from the crop. Then, Bradley has his most clever idea yet—a plan to collapse the farmers’ protective netting so the birds can eat the strawberry crop!
The habits, behaviors, and relationships between species are described in vivid, knowledgeable detail, expanding readers’ scientific understanding of birds as they enjoy the story. Bradley and his friend Beth are lively, clever, and resourceful main characters, encouraging readers to sympathize with the birds’ perspectives. Throughout the story, beautiful watercolor artwork presents the bird characters with physiological accuracy as well as lively personalities. Best of all, the story ends on a positive note, with the farmers providing a feeding solution that benefits both the birds and the crops, showing that compromise is possible in the struggle between human progress and the natural world.
The Strawberry Thief is an engaging and instructive story about the wonderful resilience of the natural world and the power of teamwork—a testament to the strength and ingenuity of the natural world, and a call to action for us to protect and preserve it.
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About the Creator
J.C. Chandler is a writer of fiction, creating stories for both adults and children because he finds it enjoyable. He takes great pleasure in the process of writing and hopes that his joy is evident to his readers.
He is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators and has volunteered with the Independent Authors of Southern California. He thrives in the company of fellow writers, appreciating how they notice the small and large wonders of the world.
His educational background includes an undergraduate degree from California State University-Fullerton and graduate studies at California Polytechnic University-Pomona and Fullerton. He has also studied creative writing and art at Santa Monica College.
He resides with his wonderful wife in a small home in Marina del Rey, California. His writing desk is situated in a breakfast nook with windows overlooking the street, where he can observe birds, squirrels, and people walking their dogs (or perhaps dogs walking their people?) through the screen of lemon trees in his front yard.
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