Who Gives a Hoot?--Calpurnia Tate, Girl Vet

September 1, 2017

Gr 3-5-Calpurnia Tate, girl vet, embarks on another animal adventure in the third book of the series. While rowing down the San Marcos River, Callie and Grandaddy experience all kinds of things: plants, animals, and fossils to name a few. But never did they expect a barn owl to fall from the sky and into the river next to their boat! Reacting quickly, Callie uses a butterfly net to rescue the bird from the water. Unsure of what could have caused an owl to fall from the sky, Callie and Grandfather decide to take it home for observation. Will Callie and Granddaddy be able to nurse the owl back to health and discover its ailment? The merit of this series lies in its ability to easily introduce young readers to scientific terminology and the importance of respecting nature. Though she is taking care of the wounded bird, Callie does not treat the owl as a pet. This message is explored further when it is discovered that the owl's illness stems from human interference. VERDICT This latest installment will be of interest to young readers intrigued by nature and animal care. A must-have where there are fans of the previous books.-Tiffany Davis, Mount Saint Mary College, Newburgh, NY

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

August 15, 2017
Hoo hoo who knows what to do when an owl needs some aid? Calling Callie Tate, stat! October 1901 sees budding veterinarian/naturalist Calpurnia Tate and her grandfather floating in a leaky rowboat (christened the Beagle) down the San Marcos River. Along the way they run across a most unusual creature: a drowning owl. Baffled by the bird's condition, they decide to keep it on hand until they can ascertain its problem. Skillful observations on Callie's part help to determine the owl's ailment (illness by way of a poisoned mouse) and lead to an effective cure. In this latest in an early chapter-book series (Counting Sheep, 2017, etc.) that continues the story begun in series for older readers (The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate, 2009, etc.), Callie is a welcome guide to not only animal facts and lore, but also the mores and restrictions of early-20th-century life for women. Callie's description of "the bloodthirsty Comanche" who left arrowheads behind is tonally out of sync with her noting that they "had hunted here for centuries before being driven onto the reservation in the Oklahoma Territory"; that "bloodthirsty" feels unnecessary at best. An addition to a series that verges on the charming for readers who can ignore a bump or two along the way. (Historical fiction. 7-10)

COPYRIGHT(2017) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.