Bonnie's Rescue: A Courageous Critters(r) Series Book

This is a sweet story for young readers that meets them where they live. A young ferret is separated from her human "parents" during a road trip and encounters her undomesticated relatives, who eventually help her to find her way back to her family. It's a classic journey tale. Along the way our heroine experiences both prejudice (she's a different kind of ferret than the wild ones) and the kindness of strangers; she is unexpectedly championed by a fearsome warrior ferret; she feels fear, loneliness, shame, courage, love, and ultimately grows in her understanding and maturity. The book is constructed of short chapters and simple language. It's not a complex children's tale of animal life - as in The Wind in the Willows - but it bridges the gap between picture books and longer, more involved stories. Speaking of pictures, I would have enjoyed more of the charming illustrations.

Bonnie's adventures in the wild while separated from her parents make for an entertaining and well paced children's book. I especially appreciate the way that the values of respect and compassion are integrated into the story. They are expressed in a way I think kids can relate to, and remind me a lot of common playground situations. Still, the fun is all in the adventures or a city ferret getting to know the dangers and excitement of the great outdoors. All in all, a great read.