Meerkat Madness (Awesome Animals)

By: Ian Whybrow
Publisher: Barron's Educational Series
Publication Date: April 2013
ISBN: 978-1438003030
Reviewed by: Deb Fowler
Review Date: May 2013

Uncle Fearless was tending to the motherless meerkats, Skeema, Little Dream, and Mimi. Their mother, Princess Fragrant, has been “taken by a wild dog” when they were wee things. They remembered that Flower had nursed them, but most of all they loved Uncle Fearless. They were getting ready to head to the Upworld and he tried to reassure them that everything would be just fine. Uncle Fearless would often tell them about his Glory Days, those fantastic days when he met up with the blah blahs and the oolooks. They were strange creatures who were led by Chief Click-click and there were really unusual things like vroom vrooms.

“I’m not making this up!” declared Uncle Fearless, but no one believed him except his little ones. Ever since the eagle owl attack took out his eye and practically killed him he was a nobody to the Sharpeyes. Queen Heartless no longer wanted him as king and took his younger brother, Chancer, as king. Uncle Fearless was nothing but an old washed up babysitter who made up stories. He was once a fearless king, but no one believed this one-eyed fool. “We’re going on an adventure,” exclaimed Little Dream. They had dug up a mysterious egg chamber and crossing the desert to see those blah blahs and oolooks would prove that Uncle Fearless was really a king. Was he really a king or just a BIG liar?

This is a fabulously fun and zany adventure with Uncle Fearless and the meerkat pups. Uncle Fearless and his “adopted” pups are considered to be a bunch of misfits in Sharpeye society, but the discerning young reader instinctively knows that the old meerkat is no fool. Of course the trick is to cross that mighty desert and prove to everyone that his Glory Days were the real thing. The story line is told from the vantage point of the meerkats who think blah blahs and oolooks (humans) and their vroom vrooms (cars) and quite odd. Young adventurous readers will certainly enjoy this zany bunch and will learn a lot about meerkats in the process.

Quill says: The “Awesome Animals” series is perfect for young mischief makers who enjoy seeing other young critters in action!