The Story Of A Seagull And The Cat Who Taught Her To Fly
Grade 3-6-Zorba is a noble, big, black cat from the port of Hamburg who keeps his vow to a dying seagull who was tragically caught in an oil slick. He promises to watch over her egg, not to eat the chick when it hatches, and to teach the baby gull to fly. With the aid of four loyal feline friends, he hatches the egg and the young female that emerges immediately calls him "Mommy." Having fulfilled two of the promises, Zorba and his mates must not only teach her to fly, but also give her the strength to leave those she loves to realize her true nature. Zorba breaks the taboo and speaks to a human poet, who carries the young gull and her beloved foster father to a church tower where Lucky naturally, gracefully takes flight. This intelligent, eloquently translated work examines loyalty, trust, and acceptance of differences. It truthfully displays environmental destruction caused by humans and the animals note that, "Humans, unfortunately, are unpredictable. Often it is with the best intentions that they cause the greatest damage." Zorba's Hamburg is populated with fascinating felines, several of whom have foreign accents and mannerisms. Sheban's soft-focus, black-and-white illustrations capture the action of the text and portray a world where animals must make important, life-changing decisions. Complete with humor and whimsy, this is a book with heart and soul. It will make readers' spirits soar.Shawn Brommer, South Central Library System, Madison, WICopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.