My Name Isn’t Oof!: Warren the Warbler Takes Flight

PreS-Gr 2–Warren the warbler sees his siblings learning to fly and he too leaps off a branch and attempts to fly. When he is unsuccessful and falls on the ground, disappointed and frustrated, a cast of woodland creatures appears to cheer him on. A squirrel, a rabbit, and a skunk, among others, talk Warren through the steps to a successful flight. At the end of the story, there is a section with information about the Townsend’s Warbler and what to do if  you find a baby bird. The story has a silly and cute aspect to it, as all the animals think Warren’s name is Oof. This playfulness continues as the animals, despite being unable to fly themselves, offer flying advice. The text itself repeats and builds, with Warren accumulating the tips each animal provides on every subsequent page, demonstrating a trick for children to remember lists of things and an opportunity to interact and participate in a read-aloud by recalling all the animal’s advice. The illustrations are whimsical and pretty, giving great detail to the critters in the forest. The vocabulary and alliteration throughout could be challenging for some readers, but also boosts the fun.