Polly Pecorino: The Girl Who Rescues Animals

by Emma Chichester Clark

A captivating, illustrated young fiction novel about a kind girl and a lost bear cub, with a classic feel from the much-loved, award-winning author-illustrator.
Are you brave enough to enter the Wild Bear Woods? Polly Pecorino rescues animals, and she can talk to them too. She spends all of her time caring for those at Happy Days Zoo, where the devious owners, Mr and Mrs Snell, will do anything to make money. One day they steal a bear cub, certain that he will do wonders for ticket sales, but the ferocious bears living in Wild Bear Woods want their cub back. Will Polly be brave enough to stand up to the Snells and take Booboo, the bear cub, back where he belongs?

Genres: Animals, Middle Grade, Fiction, Childrens

224 pages, Hardcover

Published September 2, 2021

About the author

Education:
Chelsea School of Art, B.A. (with honors), 1978;
Royal College of Art, M.A. (with honors), 1983.

Additional information about her life can be found at:
http://biography.jrank.org/pages/1059...

Reviews

[Stace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Polly Pecorino is the tale of a young girl who adores animals, and has the ability to communicate with them too.

Helping out her Uncle at the Happy Days Zoo she discovers that one of the bear cubs has been taken from its home in the surrounding woods but the owners. The scary, terrifying, nightmarish woods - well that's what every one says about them!

The book is a wonderful tale. A bit like Dr Dolittle in child form. The book is filled with wonderful illustrations throughout that follow the story perfectly.

For any animal loving child, this book would be perfect. They get to be surrounded by animals whilst engrossed in a fun adventure story and meet a caring, loving, courageous young girl with a very big heart.

[kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5* a super cute and slightly bizarre little story with delightful illustrations.

[Mary Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

So captivating, it is impossible to put down. The small town setting would seem ordinary, if it weren’t for the walls surrounding and protecting from the dangerous Wild Bear Woods outside and this plays on a fairytale scenario with which we are all familiar. There is danger “out there” and we know it. But when something “out there” is brought inside the safety…and needs help, it’s time for someone with courage to venture into the woods. Polly. Polly is a wonderful character. She is kind, understanding and uses her cleverness and talent to guide her as she follows her heart. And she is very brave. Her ability to talk to animals gives the reader an unique opportunity to see things from the animals perspective and through Pollys’ eyes as the gentle drama and action builds steadily throughout the story. Heartwarming, quietly exciting, encouraging, thoughtful and most of all, charming; a wonderful story with a real classic feel.

[Aruna Kumar Gadepalli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Polly, a girl who always rescues/saves creatures try to save the bear cub. the adventure that brings safety to the village and the stories that heard of bears remain a myth, with illustrations the story takes the reader into the world of bears and human relationships.

[I _teach_muggles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Are you brave to enough to enter Wild Bear Woods?

Polly Pecorino is a rescuer of animals. She is able to talk to them too! Whilst helping her Uncle Stan out at the Happy Days Zoo, she uncovers that the zoo’s despicable owners, Mr and Mrs. Snell, have stolen a bear cub from the woods in order to make money. Polly is determined to reunite the terrified cub with its parents. But no-one ever enters Wild Bear Woods because rumours are that the bears will eat anyone that does…

A child with a love for animals must get the better of two cruel and incompetent zoo owners in Emma Chichester Clark’s debut children’s novel. Already being billed as a future classic, children - and many adults - will fall in love with Booboo the bear and his new best friend who will go to any lengths to help him find his way back to where he truly belongs.

Polly, who has courage and kindness by the bucketload, is a wonderful protagonist with a gift that most children would love to have. Immediately relatable, every child who loves and cares about animals will be rooting for her and Booboo from the moment they first meet. The villains, and Polly’s adversaries, are cold-hearted, selfish and greedy. Unlike Polly, the Snells - who inherited the zoo - are not animal-lovers and had me scowling and raging with their treatment of the animals in their care.

With beautiful storytelling that promotes kindness and compassion towards all living creatures and featuring some truly gorgeous illustrations, Polly Pecorino is utterly delightful. It is a real
heart-warming bear-hug of a book with a most cleverly crafted twist at the end. Exploring themes of animal welfare, the purpose of zoos - who are they really for, and the dangerous narrative of Fake News, Chichester Clark offers up plenty of conversation topics.

Will have children desperately hoping to meet bears that may be hiding out in the woods.

Recommended for 7+.

[Hannah Clarke · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I love animals so I think this book was great for me!

[The Book Squirrel · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a simple story about some mean adults who keep animals in a zoo and a girl who can talk to animals. The adults kidnap a baby bear (bears live in the nearby woods and all the town is afraid of them, but the baby bear is a money-spinner for the zoo) and the girl rescues him and takes him back to his family.
In my opinion, the world wasn't consistent, as talking to animals was supposed to be Polly's special gift, but the bears in the forest are almost anthropomorphized and talk to everyone.

The story was ok, but I didn't find it anything special. I wouldn't go out of my way to recommend it, but if a child picked it up, I wouldn't stop them.

I listened to the audio, but it appears the illustrations are lovely, so it might be a bit better to read rather than listen to.

[A Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely, original story about a little girl who can talk to animals and sets out to right a wrong when a young bear cub is snatched from his family. A great little twist in the way it ends with the Snells ending up where they do. Emma Chichester Clark's illustrations are as expressive and wonderful as you'd expect and add to the story perfectly.

[Becs · Rating 4 out of 5]

I feel like the generation of stories such as Winnie the Pooh bring such fond memories to mind for me, and I look upon small children now and wonder what characters they will remember in the same way. The difference is, the market is so saturated now with cute characters and a whole host of worlds and stories that it's hard to believe any of them will really stand out enough to conjure up that nostalgic magic in years to come.

But I feel as though Polly's story has something akin to that feeling. If you love animals, as many small children do, and would opt to stop and rescue a caterpillar crossing your path rather than risk an unsuspecting shoe or cyclist to step on it then I really feel like this book is your song. Polly is one of those warm and gentle souls who you really can relate to, and who if we're being honest we hope our children will turn out to be too.

Her relationship with animals in this book takes her on quite an adventure, but the real selling point (aside from animals absolutely everywhere you look!) is that she communicates with them too. I just loved this - such a brilliant dimension to add and a unique insight to enjoy.

My only complaint, and it's entirely a me thing, is that I don't really enjoy the "small town vibes" that this book is going for; that just never works for me. But otherwise, a pretty faultless story with fantastic creatures to enjoy.

ARC provided from the publishers in exchange for an honest review.

[Kalilah · Rating 2 out of 5]

A bit silly, really. A bit too silly, and wishy-washy, and rushed. Bit of a disappointment. Think it could have done with a firmer editiorial hand to whip the prose and plot (and silliness) into proper shape, but as it is it reads rather like a World Book Day special (and those are never any good, let's be real).

[sgh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very sweet story, with the most lush illustrations. Would be perfect to read to children who like Roald Dahl or Paddington.

[Jane Garner · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a lovely heart warming book with a thoughtful approach to how we view and treat animals. I love Ralph the bear!

[Yvonne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautiful illustrated, nice little children's book

[Anna Davidson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this. Short chapters and plenty of action make this a wonderful read aloud for middle primary.