A starred review from School Library Journal for A Raven of the Rainforest!
★Parry, Rosanne. A Raven of the Rainforest. illus. by Howard Gray. 256p. (Voice of the Wilderness). Greenwillow. Sept. 2026. Tr $18.99. ISBN 9780 063424319. Gr 3-6–Westerly the raven was told on her fledging day that she was special, and a foretelling spoke of how she would save others in the future. Her family and the other ravens are delighted by this news, but Westerly doesn’t feel special or brave. She just loves her forest, her family, her river, and the wind that carries her majestically through the sky. Her life is happy and full as she learns more about the world and follows her curious nature to explore. But when disaster strikes and Westerly fails to warn her family in time, she flees, leaving her beloved home behind. Will she ever live up to her foretelling or find a place to call home? Parry’s latest “Voice of the Wilderness” installment is yet another deeply educational tale of an ecosystem told through the eyes of the animals who depend on it. Themes of family, respect, responsible use of resources, friendship, loss, and hope are thoughtfully explored. While the humans who are destroying Raven’s habitat are portrayed as ruthless, the Indigenous peoples and others who live in harmony with it are celebrated. Stunning grayscale illustrations by Gray complement most pages. A full 30 pages of back matter explain everything from facts about ravens and rainforests to the true historical events portrayed in the novel, to ideas for how readers can continue the fight to protect natural resources. VERDICT Nature fiction at its finest, this title should be wherever young readers can find it. Highly recommended for purchase.–Emily Beasley
It will be in stores September but you can preorder a signed and personalized copy at Annie Blooms books in Portland right now! We ship anywhere in the US. Stay tuned for details about my west coast book tour in October!
Teachers! there is a free educator’s guide to all of the Voice of the Wilderness Books, now including our newest title A Raven of the Rainforest..
A Wolf Called Fire is a 2025 Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection, a #1 Indie Best Seller, and an Oregon Book Award winner.
As always if you are looking for a signed copy of any of my books, give Annie Blooms Books in Portland a call or visit. We ship anywhere in the US!
“An exciting and thoughtful portrait inspired by a real animal who succeeded by being different.” book review Kirkus
Though this is billed as a stand-alone novel, it offers an additional perspective on the events that take place in A Wolf Called Wander, as well as a refreshing approach to leadership, and reaches depths that book only probed. VERDICT: This wolf tale presents a diversity of ideologies and perspectives, all of which are sure to help readers reflect on where and how they fit into the world. Highly recommended.–Benjamin Ludwig School Library Journal
Purchase
If you would like to purchase my books I hope you will consider shopping at one of the independent bookstores who have been so supportive of me over the years. Here’s a link to the bookstore finder at Indiebound. If you would like to have a signed copy of any of my books, please call Annie Blooms the Portland bookshop where I work at (503) 246-0053 or use the buy button to connect to the shop website. They’ll be happy to take a message about how to personalize your copy and then I’ll sign it on my next shift. We ship to any place in the United States. If none of those options work for you, I am always grateful to readers who get their books at the public or school library. They have been great supporters of my work, too.
I love getting letters from children. You can send them to me at Annie Blooms Bookstore, 7834 SW Capitol Hwy, Portland, OR 97219. For personalized copies, use the link below.
