Title: A Crow: Named Pedro?
Author: Mr. Joseph
Publisher: XlibrisUS
ISBN: 978-1-7960-2621-4
Genre: Illustrated Children’s Book
Pages: 24
Reviewed by: Beth Adams

Read Book Review

This author that goes by the name of Mr. Joseph as he has compiled a children’s book of multiple stories, each about animals; personifying them a being creatures of thought, reason and cunning survival.

In a variety of styles, Mr. Joseph begins A Crow: Named Pedro? with the story of the flea and the fox. In this story, the fox, named Tee, has a flea pestering him causing him to scratch, roll over, shake and shiver to get that flea off of him. Nothing seems to work when Tee thought of a plan. He went in a stream with a stick in his mouth. Swimming with his body underwater, the flea was forced to go up to the fox’s nose – the only part above water to breathe. Then, once the flea jumped onto the stick, the fox let go and let the stick drift down the river – away from the fox. Yes, the fox outsmarted the flea, or should it be said, “Out foxed the flea.”

Next is the story of “The Arizona Crow” being narrated by a wildcat named Oscar. The crow was named Pedro, and had lots of friends including Sammy Side Winder, Will Bill Coyote, Lady Hawk and Tommy the Rattlesnake. As Pedro made his home high up in a cactus tree, the other critters were frolicking around when the desert rain caused a flood of water, with a loud whoosh the water ran along the ground, but Pedro was kept safe high up in the tree. Then Pedro went into a cabin where he accidently knocked over a jar of flour and covered himself in a white powder. He was then called the white ghost bird – even up to today – although the author’s family knew him as Mr. Crow-Pedro. The third story is when Mr. Crow was deciding to join the council, but it seemed the other animals in the council were the same animals that could not decide on whether or not they were going to eat him. So Pedro became a predator bird – a bird of prey – but being challenged on his hunting skills, he stuck close to the Eagle and Vulture, and grabbed their freshly killed meals.

All of these fanciful characters fill up the bouncy stories with thoughts of animal-logic and survival instincts being told on a level of understand so children can gain insight on how the animal world works. Although a bit discombobulated in the flow of the stories, the free flowing narration is told with a technique to entice and maintain children’s interest. These stories fall into the category of tales which are passed down from one generation to another, educating on the many fundamental characteristic of various animals. Along with the artful illustrations interleaved throughout, it results in a wonderful book for youngsters to be read at bedtime.

Children falling asleep to the story of Pedro, will have their dreams soar like Pedro in the wind, high above the desert, looking down upon the fauna and the animal friends they made.