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The Eyes & the Impossible
CCBC Review:
Johannes takes his job as the “eyes” of the seaside park where he’s lived in the wild since he was a puppy very seriously. His best friend, seagull Bernard; Sonja, a squirrel; Angus, a raccoon; and Yolanda, a pelican, all assist him. Johannes reports nightly to the three bison who live in a fenced off area and maintain the park’s “equilibrium.” One day while mesmerized by paintings at an art show in the park, Johannes is snatched by a group of humans. Johannes’s friends thwart the effort to dognap him, but Johannes comes away from the experience with a new appreciation for freedom and realizes the bison deserve to be free, too. Johannes’s friends are willing to help plan and execute a mission to release them, but they want to help Johannes, too: A museum is opening in the park, and they’re determined to get Johannes safely inside to view the art, since he clearly finds it fascinating. There’s more than one “impossible”—and a whole herd of goats—in this funny, philosophical, tender, action-packed story. Heroic and hilarious, it illuminates acts of compassion and friendship, and more than one revelation that has Johannes expanding his understanding of himself, his friends, and the world. As a narrator, Johannes is enthusiastic, earnest, endearing, and droll in a wonderful choice for reading aloud or reading alone. ©2023 Cooperative Children’s Book Center
Illustrated by Shawn Harris
CCBC Age Recommendation: Ages 8-11
Age Range:
Grades 3-5 (Ages 8-10)
Grades 6-8 (Ages 11-13)
Format:
Novel
Subjects:
Action/Adventure
Animals (Fiction)
Art and Artists
Empathy and Compassion
Friendship
Humor
On CCBC Booklist:
Family Read-Alouds
Publishers:
Knopf, Random House
Publish Year: 2023
Pages: 249
ISBN: 9781524764203
CCBC Location: Fiction, Eggers