Wutaryoo

Readers, with their varying levels of experience around identity, will decide the degree of satisfaction this provides.

Wutaryoo is unlike any other animal in her habitat; in fact, she is so unique that neither she nor her friends can quite determine what kind of animal she is. Her appearance is a combination of physical traits of other animals, which heightens the mystery of her identity. Unlike Wutaryoo, other animals in the kingdom can provide a name, where they are from, and how they arrived at their shared home at a particular point in time. Although she is saddened by her lack of knowledge, Wutaryoo embarks on a journey of discovery in which she learns the folklore, ancestry, and origin story of animals around the world, creating her own story in the process. McGruder's (How to Find a Fox) watercolor illustrations and generous use of earthy colors are as varied as the strange and wonderful creatures Wutaryoo encounters. Older, more discerning readers may identify several possible interpretations of Wutaryoo's story, while all will get the message that they have the power to create their own story and define who they are. VERDICT A warmhearted tale of the journey to self-discovery, this is recommended for school and public libraries serving children.

Copyright 2022 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

The diminutive, silvery hero of this picture book by Magruder (How to Find a Fox) has a long, feathery tail; outsize mouse ears; and small horns on her head, but “She was the only one, and she did not know where she came from.// She did not know her name either.” When curious animals ask, “Wutaryoo?” she responds with the same phrase, listening timidly as other animals regale her with the stories of their species’ origins. “The first gardener,” a rabbit reveals, “dug too deep and hit the very center of the world, and you know what popped out? Rabbits!” “Wow,” marvels Wutaryoo. Later, under a full moon, she muses: “Surely, I have a story, too.” Painterly digital spreads in grays, lavenders, and pinks take on an otherworldly feeling as Wutaryoo journeys over and under the earth. Her odyssey doesn’t give her the answer she seeks, but she returns with tales about what she has seen and felt—stories that win her the admiration of her peers. Employing beguiling characters and dreamlike artwork, Magruder makes a case for individual worth: it’s not illustrious ancestry that makes creatures special, but what they do themselves—and the generosity with which they share their experience. Ages 4–7. Agent: Tricia Lawrence, Erin Murphy Literary. (Jan.)

Copyright 2022 Publisher's Weekly, LLC Used with permission