Common Sense Media Review
By Mary Eisenhart
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Sweet, spare friendship tale of courage, gratitude, stories.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 5+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 1 parent review
What's the Story?
ORRIS AND TIMBLE: THE BEGINNING finds Orris the rat leading a peaceful, solitary life in the cozy nest he's made for himself in an abandoned barn. He loves his velvet slipper, he loves his yellow marble that lights up like a lamp, and he really loves his sardine can, with the image of a sardine king advising, "Make the good and noble choice!" Then one peaceful evening there's a great clamor out in the barn, and Orris finds a baby owl trapped, unable to escape, who's very sad and scared. Orris knows that owls eat rats, and he just wants to stay in his nest and leave young Timble to his fate -- but under the disappointed gaze of the Sardine King, he thinks better of it and goes to help.
Is It Any Good?
Kate DiCamillo delivers a sweet, timeless tale of unlikely friendship and the power of storytelling, sure to hit the sweet spot with early readers, younger kids, and their reading-aloud parents. Carmen Mok's colorful, engaging illustrations make Orris and Timble (a rat, and the baby owl he rescues despite his fears) into irresistible new friends whose growing bond and further adventures we can't wait to follow.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about stories, like Orris and Timble, about characters who aren't "supposed" to be friends, but are anyway. What other stories do you know that do this well? Who are the characters and how do they work out their differences?
Have you ever been really scared to do something, realized it would be really helpful if you did it, and went ahead and did it despite your fears? What happened? How did you find the courage to do it anyway? How did it turn out?
Are there owls where you live? Do they look like Timble, or different?
Book Details
- Author: Kate DiCamillo
- Illustrator: Carmen Mok
- Genre: Animals
- Topics: Friendship , Wild Animals
- Character Strengths: Courage , Empathy , Gratitude
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Candlewick Press
- Publication date: April 30, 2024
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 5 - 8
- Number of pages: 80
- Available on: Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Award: Common Sense Selection
- Last updated: May 17, 2024
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