Barkbelly (review)

As a wooden egg, Barkbelly falls from a flying machine into a field and gets kicked up by a tractor to hit an old man on the head. The old man takes him home and eventually throws him into the fire, where he hatches into a little wooden baby. From there, more accidents propel Barkbelly from his comfy life as the cherished son of the old man and his wife into a life of amazing and often dangerous adventures. His unique physique makes him perfect for jobs that daunt fleshly types—plucking hedgehog quills, for instance, and stirring boiling and sputtering vats of jam. He learns that getting a bit of him chopped off is no bother—it grows right back—but that fire is permanent and deadly. After life as a farmer, a factory worker, and a circus performer, he discovers that he isn't the only one of his kind, and he sets sail, first on a merchant ship and then with pirates, to find his home, where a dark, ugly secret awaits him. His return to his adoptive parents is no less treacherous, however, as he must face the consequences of the accident that sent him away. Within the familiar structure of a folktale, Barkbelly's story fairly crackles with originality in the storytelling and the details. Though the length may be a bit daunting for younger readers, short chapters and a high-interest, episodic plot make it a good choice for a readaloud or readalone that can be stretched out over a period of time. Smudgy black-and-white illustrations enhance the "long ago and far away" feeling of the setting, and they are plentiful enough to keep visual learners and reluctant readers on track with Barkbelly's underdog exploits. Barkbelly himself is a winning fellow, as heroic and fearless as he is loving and vulnerable. Readers with various tastes will all find something to latch onto here.