Saturday 5 January 2013

Book Review, Whoever Heard of a Fird?



Whoever Heard of a Fird?

Author: Othello Bach

Illustrator: Shann Hurst

Publisher: Othello Bach

Release date: October 10, 2012

ISBN: 978-1-47933318-9
Paperback, 60 pages

From the Back Cover:  If you haven't heard of a fird, part fish, part bird, you don't know that he's looking for a herd of fird. He wants to find out if he's "firding" right. You see, Fird was raised a a nest of Dickens, part dog, part chickens, but they never heard of a fird, and they don't know if he's firding right.

So Fird sets out to find a herd of Fird. Along the way, he meets many two-feature creatures--- whimsical animals like shamels---part sheep, part camels, and bertles---part bear, part turtles. But no one has heard of a fird . . .



When Fird and his best friend,  Snyder Spider, set off to find a herd of firds, they are warned by Lucille Dicken that big, bad boogie monsters loom at the bottom of the mountain. Fird didn't even know that they lived on a mountain.

". . . I must find out where I came from, where I'm going, and what I'm supposed to be." Fird tells the dickens, even though Fird is scared.

Soon Fird and Snyder Spider come across the boogie monsters. But these are no ordinary boogie monsters--they are the kind that . . . well, I don't want to say and give it away.  Somehow, Fird and Snyder do get past the boogie monsters and continue to search for a heard of fird.

Fird and Snyder then meet Hyenant--part hyena, part ant-- who has never heard of a fird. Even his magic coat can't produce a herd of fird.  "There's no such thing, I assure you." Hyenant tells Fird.

Neither have the driders--part dragon, part spider--ever seen a fird.  Nor can the bertles--part bear, part turtle--say that they have ever heard of a fird.

Although most of the two-feature creatures are friendly, there is trouble when Fird and Snyder meet the snoozes--part snake, part mongoose--because the snoozes just aren't very nice. And beside, they've never heard of a fird either.


The woose,  the shamels, the blizzard, the girouse---none of the two-feature creatures can help Fird.  How will Fird ever find his herd of fird and find out where he belongs?



   This is a masterfully written and  creative story that embraces a powerful message for all of us--being what we want to be, without looking outside  of ourselves. An excerpt from one of the story's poems depicts this wonderfully:
         . . .
         This is your time; it is your time to shine
                   But you need to realize:
         Everything you need for you to succeed
         Lies between your ears behind your eyes.
         . . .

    I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The writing is witty and whimsical, and the whole book has a magical uniqueness. There are several poems laced throughout the story which are delightfully humorous. The poems in the book are actually the lyrics to songs written by the author. You can play the songs here  as you get to that part of the story.


     The illustrations are incredibly funny, colorful, and extremely well done, with a color illustration or spot illustration on every page.  



I did listen to the audio book also, which is very professionally done, and a fun experience in itself. Not only is the story read with pazazz, all the poems in the book break out into toe-tapping, catchy songs.


The book is also an audio book with a Free download for a limited time.
Go here

Author, Othello Bach, website               
Author, Othelo Back, bookstie
Illustrator, Shann Hurst, website

Copyright ©2012 by Othello Bach, used with permission
Illustrations: Copyright ©2012 by Shann Hurst




10 comments:

  1. Very nice review for a very magical book. But then magic is right up your al . . . uh,forest. I like your review. If I'd know how wonderful you would review this book, I'd have begged you to review it on Kid Lit Reviews.

    The newest Blog Hop #7 starts Wednesday. Why not use this review as your link. This book deserves some attention. So do you!

    Go to my or Rene's site. No, go to Rene's. I have not had time to get the post up, but I will be hitting the links more than usual this time.

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    Replies
    1. LOL Sue! Thanks for sending her my way! ;) When will your laptop be repaired? We need you back in action!

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  2. Thanks for the compliment, Sue. Coming from a professional reviewer such as yourself, that means a lot.

    I will try to join the newest blog hop.

    And thanks for stopping by.

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  3. Following you from the Kid Lit Hop! How cute! No I have very heard of a Fird. But I want this book. I am now following you on GFC and by email.

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  4. Hi Patricia,

    This book is absolutely wonderful. Thanks for stopping by and joining up. Every week I post about something to do with writing, not necessarily a book review. What is your blog, Patricia? I will go have a look and join you also.
    Take care.
    Diane R.

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  5. What an imagination! I would never have tried to combine some of those animals - a dragon and a spider? The irony of combining a snake and a mongoose is not lost on me! lol I love the little verse you included, "This is your time..." Is there a typo in the last line though?

    Thanks for linking this great review and book recommendation in the Kid Lit Blog Hop. Happy to see you there again and hope you'll join us again next week (I'm a slow little Hopper this time around). :S

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  6. Hi Renee C.

    If you think you're a little slow, I'm just going to the rest of the hop now.

    No, no mistake in the last line . . . well, okay, busted, but I fixed it now. Thanks for the good eyes.

    Yes, I hope to be at the next hop also. This working stuff is getting in my way.

    Talk to you soon.

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  7. I have to agree; those illustrations are excellent! Thanks for linking into the Kid Lit Blog Hop! I am inexcusably late in hopping this round, but I'm looking at the bright side since I'm able to remind everyone of our next hop this Wednesday :) Hope to see you then!

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  8. Hi there, Snacks For Max,

    Thanks for stopping by. I plan to check out more blogs at the next blog hop.

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