Kae Nishimura
PreSchool-Grade 3–In this quirky story, readers are taken back to once upon a time, when dodo birds became extinct. One quicker and smarter bird manages to survive, and one dedicated professor who had studied dodo birds for more than seventy years stubbornly believes in its existence. After traveling the world, this sole dodo settles in New York City, where he can dance and spend a lot of time in the park. Then one day, he and the professor have one of those big-city chance encounters. The professor wants to catch the bird so that people will finally believe his theory, but Dodo really doesn't want to be caught. Finally, after high pursuit and a clever twist, Dodo and the professor become close friends who dance and spend a lot of time in the park. Done in rich watercolors with thick lines, the offbeat illustrations add punch and details that bring out the wry humor of the story. A note on the dedication page reminds readers caught up in Dodo's adventures that Unfortunately, as far as we know, the dodo (Raphus cucullatus) really is extinct. This amusing tale is a treat to read aloud and pays special tribute to New York City and the two unlikely friends.
