Title: The Curious Quest of Billowby
Author: Tina Gregg
Age Range Recommendation: 7-12 years (perfect for confident independent readers in grades 2-6, and excellent for family or classroom read-alouds)
ISBN: 9798277945575
Description:
One curious step can change everything.
Billowby is a young shoebill stork who lives in a quiet African swamp - until the sparkling river whispers promises of faraway places. Ignoring Old Heron's warnings, Billowby follows the current and suddenly finds himself lost in a vast, ever-changing world of forests, savannas, stormy coasts, hidden lagoons, and a distant island with long-forgotten secrets.
Along the way, he meets an unforgettable crew of friends:
Pili, the brave little parrot with an injured wingGully, the boastful but big-hearted seagullJuma, the clever fisherman who becomes their leaderAmina, the last survivor of a shipwrecked familyand a whole flock of colorful helpersTogether they face raging tides, hungry crocodiles, sneaky pythons, a territorial hippo, and storms that threaten to sweep them away. With every challenge, Billowby learns that real courage isn't about being the fastest or strongest - it's about patience, teamwork, and finding your way home.
Filled with real facts about shoebills, African wildlife, river and coastal ecosystems, and the power of friendship, The Curious Quest of Billowby is an exciting 13-chapter adventure that will inspire young explorers to be curious, kind, and brave.
14 beautiful black-and-white illustrations + full-color endpaper map21,000+ wordsPerfect for fans of The Wild Robot and Pax - and every young explorer who loves animals, maps, and learning while turning pages.Ages 7-12 Grades 2-6 Ideal for reluctant readers, animal lovers, and classroom units on habitats, resilience, and geography.
Join Billowby on the journey that takes him farther than he ever imagined - and brings him exactly where he belongs.