Moose and Magpie

By: Bettina Restrepo 
Illustrated by: Sherry Rogers 
Publisher: Sylvan Dell Publishing 
Publication Date: June 2009 
ISBN: 978-1934359976 
Reviewed by: Holly Connors 
Review Date: July 2009

Moose has a problem – his head is itchy! You see, Moose is young and he has little nubs on his head that will soon grow into beautiful antlers. But when antlers grow, they are itchy, itchy, itchy. Moose scratches his head on a tree for relief and that’s when he meets the joke telling Magpie the bird. Magpie tells Moose a joke and soon the two are best friends.

Moose and Magpie follows a year-long adventure through the life cycle of a young bull moose. The journey starts in the spring with Moose’s antlers coming in, through the summer where his appetite has grown as large as his antlers, into the fall where Moose, Magpie and several other animal friends play under the falling autumn leaves. It is in the fall that moose migrate so Magpie helps Moose find his way to a small island where the other moose have met. After a brief island visit, Moose returns to his forest friends where the snow soon falls as do his antlers.

One of the fall offerings from Sylvan Dell Publishing, Moose and Magpie is an absolutely delightful adventure story that will educate as it entertains. The bright, lively illustrations add much to the enjoyment. Along with the charming story, each page has a small block of text with information on moose such as “Some moose swim up to five miles during migration.” It is an excellent way to inform without sounding didactic. In addition, there are four pages in the back of the book with moose ‘fun facts’ as well as free online resources at the publisher’s website. Moose and Magpie is an excellent resource for the homeschooling parent as well as anybody who wants to see their child enjoy a story and learn at the same time.

Quill says: After children read Moose and Magpie, they will be spouting off facts about moose all day long, with a smile on their faces!