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Edward Martin Polansky

Goodreads Author

Born

San Antonio, The United States

Website

https://www.oscartheosprey.com

Genre

Children's, Young Adult

Member Since

February 2026

URL

https://www.goodreads.com/edpolansky

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Thirty-five years ago, during a family trip to Colorado's Royal Gorge, Edward Martin Polansky's young son made an offhand observation: "It would be terrible for a bird to be afraid of heights." That simple remark sparked an idea that would eventually become a six-book series teaching elementary readers about courage, integrity, and ethical decision-making.

But first, Ed had a forty-year career as a CPA to complete.

As a partner at Ernst & Young, founder of his own accounting firm, and eventually Of Counsel at Weaver LLP, Ed spent decades witnessing the real-world consequences of ethical lapses. He watched brilliant people derail promising careers through compromises that started small-cutting corners, prioritizing short-term gains, rationaliz Thirty-five years ago, during a family trip to Colorado's Royal Gorge, Edward Martin Polansky's young son made an offhand observation: "It would be terrible for a bird to be afraid of heights." That simple remark sparked an idea that would eventually become a six-book series teaching elementary readers about courage, integrity, and ethical decision-making.

But first, Ed had a forty-year career as a CPA to complete.

As a partner at Ernst & Young, founder of his own accounting firm, and eventually Of Counsel at Weaver LLP, Ed spent decades witnessing the real-world consequences of ethical lapses. He watched brilliant people derail promising careers through compromises that started small-cutting corners, prioritizing short-term gains, rationalizing dishonesty.

He served as Chair of the Texas Society of CPAs and on the board of San Antonio's PBS affiliate, always believing that the foundation for principled decision-making must be laid early, before children face high-stakes temptations.

So when Ed finally retired from full-time practice, he returned to that decades-old vision of an osprey afraid to fly.

In 2015, he published The Bird Who Was Afraid of Heights, introducing readers ages 6-8 to Oscar—an Osprey whose fear contradicts his very nature.

Kirkus Reviews praised the book's "sympathetic hero, engaging illustrations, and strong message." Ed followed with five more Oscar adventures, each tackling ethical dilemmas children actually face: honesty versus pride, supporting struggling friends, leadership responsibility, conflict resolution, and community decision-making.

Set in the Teton Mountains and Yellowstone, the series features distinctive black-and-white illustrations by award-winning San Antonio artist Jean Rosow. Her work brings Oscar's world to life while leaving room for young imaginations to soar.

Ed doesn't write to lecture. He writes for the child who feels different, scared, or inadequate; the child who has made mistakes and doesn't know how to make things right. His books present relatable characters navigating real challenges, discovering that character isn't about perfection but about choosing to do better and keep trying even when you're afraid.

Ed lives in San Antonio with Helenan, his wife of over fifty years. He visits schools to read Oscar's adventures and discuss character education with students, teachers, and parents. After all, the ethical foundation we build in childhood determines the adults we become: and sometimes the most important lessons come from an osprey brave enough to fly despite his fear! ...more

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Edward Martin Polansky's Blog

My Dad Was an "Old Bird"

When you hear someone described as an "old bird," does anyone come to mind? To me the phrase is an informal way; often affectionate, sometimes teasing, of describing a person with experience, wisdom, or an eccentric streak.

By that definition, the "old bird" in my life was my dad. He lived a challenging life and had a distinctive personality. I learned most about his early years late in his life. I Read more of this blog post »

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Published on September 10, 2026 06:50

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Edward Martin Polansky’s books

Average rating: 4.64 · 11 ratings · 2 reviews · 8 distinct works

	Oscar the Osprey: The Bird Who Was Afraid of Heights by Edward Martin Polansky (Goodreads Author), Edward Martin Polansky (Goodreads Author) really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 4 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Oscar the Osprey: The Bird with a Conundrum by Edward Martin Polansky (Goodreads Author), Jean Rosow (Illustrator) it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 1 rating — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Oscar the Osprey and His Daunting Decision by Edward Martin Polansky (Goodreads Author), Jean Rosow (Illustrator) it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 1 rating — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Oscar the Osprey and his Diminutive Sister it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 1 rating — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Oscar the Osprey and the Eagle Calamity by Edward Martin Polansky (Goodreads Author), Jean Rosow (Illustrator) it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 1 rating	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Oscar the Osprey and the Council Quandary by Edward Martin Polansky (Goodreads Author), Jean Rosow (Illustrator) it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 1 rating	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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Edward Polansky and 1 other person liked Edward Martin Polansky's blog post: My Dad Was an "Old Bird" "When you hear someone described as an "old bird," does anyone come to mind? To me the phrase is an informal way; often affectionate, sometimes teasing, of describing a person with experience, wisdom, or an eccentric streak. By that definition, th..." Read more of this blog post »
Sep 10, 2026 06:50AM
Edward Polansky liked Edward Martin Polansky's blog post: The Real Person Behind Woo, the Wise Old Owl "Burt and I decided sometime in junior high that the only way to understand other people is to understand yourself first. We were maybe fourteen. He already knew he was going to be a psychologist, and he practiced on me for years — personality test..." Read more of this blog post »
Sep 02, 2026 09:05PM
Edward Polansky liked Edward Martin Polansky's blog post: Why an Empty Bird Feeder Means a Hawk Is Watching "Sometimes the feeder is full and not a single bird will come near it. My wife and I have learned to read that. An empty feeder doesn't mean the birds have moved on. It means a hawk is somewhere close, and every bird in the green belt knows it befo..." Read more of this blog post »
Sep 02, 2026 09:03PM
Edward Polansky liked Edward Martin Polansky's blog post: How Ospreys Navigate Thousands of Miles — And Why They Must "Birds kept in cages their entire lives, who have never migrated and never will, still get restless every spring and every fall. They flutter back and forth against the bars. Something in them knows it's time to go. I came across that while resear..." Read more of this blog post »
Aug 22, 2026 10:44PM
Edward Polansky rated a book it was amazing Oscar the Osprey and the Council Quandary by Edward Martin Polansky (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Mar 10, 2026 06:43PM · like
Edward Polansky rated a book it was amazing Oscar the Osprey and the Eagle Calamity by Edward Martin Polansky (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Mar 10, 2026 06:43PM · like
Edward Polansky rated a book it was amazing Oscar the Osprey and the Eagle Calamity by Edward Martin Polansky (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Mar 10, 2026 06:43PM · like
Edward Polansky rated a book it was amazing Oscar the Osprey and the Eagle Calamity by Edward Martin Polansky (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Mar 10, 2026 06:43PM · like
Edward Polansky rated a book it was amazing Oscar the Osprey and His Diminutive Sister by Edward Martin Polansky (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Mar 10, 2026 06:43PM · like
Edward Polansky rated a book it was amazing Oscar the Osprey and His Daunting Decision by Edward Martin Polansky (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Mar 10, 2026 06:43PM · like

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Edward Martin Polansky’s Followers (13)

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