Oscar the Osprey

The Bird with a Conundrum

Children - Animals
50 Pages
Reviewed on 04/02/2020
Buy on Amazon

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Author Biography

Edward Martin Polansky, a Certified Public Accountant, having practiced for over forty years, is now semi-retired and writing children's books about dealing with life's hurdles and ethical dilemmas through his protagonist, Oscar the Osprey. He lives with his wife of fifty years, Helenan, in San Antonio, TX.

    Book Review

Reviewed by Mamta Madhavan for Readers' Favorite

The migrating Ospreys were surprised to find Oscar alive when they returned to the lake in spring. He had survived a dangerous winter all alone at Jenny Lake but Oscar was hiding something from everyone. He knew whatever he decided would end up making him and his brother Otto face serious consequences. It was April and Oscar flew high for the first time, overcoming his fear of heights. He was ecstatic and he was not an outcast anymore. The days were getting warmer and the older Ospreys were thinking about raising new offspring. Everyone wanted to know how Oscar survived the snow and ice but his conscience reminded him that he had not gone through the winter at the lake. Otto wanted to stay at the lake the next winter and Oscar knew if Otto stayed he would never survive. Would Oscar's conundrum be finally resolved? Would he still be the hero he was once they knew about his secret? Or would they consider him to be a fake and ostracize him again?

Oscar the Osprey: The Bird With A Conundrum by Edward Martin Polansky is a wonderful story that teaches readers about the serious consequences that can occur due to silence. The story encourages readers to be honest instead of trying to hide their mistakes and living in constant fear of being found out and being ostracized by friends and family. Jean Rosow's black and white sketches are wonderful and make the story palpable. Oscar's conundrum is real and relatable and it is heartening for readers to see how it gets resolved and how Oscar finally is accepted for who he actually is and not because of his lies and omissions. Oscar the Osprey by Edward Martin Polansky is definitely a good story for tutors and parents to use for storytelling and read-aloud sessions because of the excellent life lessons it teaches children.