Review of NICO

[Josephe-Anne]

[Following is a volunteer review of "NICO" by Marlene Rattigan.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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Who could resist a beautiful talking bird? In NICO by Marlene Rattigan, a pet cockatoo is the star of the show! The titular character loves to dance, sing, and speak as he performs for his owner, a little girl named Kim. Nico relishes the attention he gets whenever Kim and her friends give him a round of applause for his antics, but during the summer holidays, Kim and her mother are rarely home to spend time with their dear snow-white bird. This upsets Nico so much that he stops eating. Concerned for his well-being, Kim and her mother decide to bring him to their flower shop to entertain their customers. This cheers Nico up, but then there is a confusing incident, and he ends up getting lost on a train! Will this feathered friend find his way back home?

The cover shows a drawing of the cockatoo flying through a train car as startled passengers stare up at him. The title of the book is presented with multicolored blocks encasing each letter, and the author’s name is displayed in a white text box with black font. This bright design is quite eye-catching. The themes of this story include pets, problem-solving, adventure, and humor. There is no inappropriate material or religious content in this children’s book.

I like how Nico uses well-known Australian exclamations, like “crikey.” I also like the fact that this book is educational because the author included an informative section at the end. This section describes the appearance, behavior, and natural habitat of the iconic Australian species, the sulfur-crested cockatoo. As Nico is a member of that species, this is an excellent feature. Additionally, I enjoyed the vibrant illustrations created by the artist, Sergio Drumond.

There was nothing to dislike about this book. The well-edited text contained no errors. I also thought the story’s concept was unusual, and the resolution to the problem was both creative and surprising. This tale also conveys the message of being a responsible pet owner by making sure your animal companion is healthy and happy.

So, it is with great pleasure that I award NICO by Marlene Rattigan a rating of five out of five stars. This is a lovely storybook that will enthrall young animal lovers, especially those with an affinity for birds. It is recommended for children between the ages of four and eight years old.

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NICO
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