Nurk: The Strange, Surprising Adventures of a (Somewhat) Brave Shrew

by Ursula Vernon, Ursula Vernon (Illustrator)

Overview

Nurk is a quiet homebody of a shrew. But when a mysterious plea for help arrives in the mail, he invokes the spirit of his fearless warrior-shrew grandmother, Surka, and sets off to find the sender. It seems the prince of the dragonflies has been kidnapped, and Nurk is his last hope for rescue. Such a mission would be daunting for even the biggest, baddest, and bravest of shrews, and Nurk is neither big nor bad, and only a little brave. But he does his very best--and hopes his grandmother would be proud.       Nurk is a warm, wonderful, and hilarious illustrated adventure about courage, family legacies, and friendships of a most unusual nature.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780547351810
Publisher:	HarperCollins Publishers
Publication date:	01/17/2024
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	145
Lexile:	920L (what's this?)
File size:	4 MB
Age Range:	1 - 12 Years

About the Author

URSULA VERNON is a freelance illustrator, artist, and, in her words, a "creator of weird thingies." Nurk is her first book for young readers. She lives in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Editorial Reviews

Gr 3–6—In Ursula Vernon's animal fantasy (Harcourt, 2008), Nurk longs to be like his brave grandmother shrew, Surka, who had many adventures. However, he doesn't feel brave enough to leave his small island. His life is forever changed when he receives and opens a letter intended for his grandmother. Not knowing where his grandmother is, he sets out to return the letter to the sender. He makes a boat out of a snail shell and sets out on an adventure where he meets creatures like dragonflies, carp, and the scary Grizzlemole. Nurk decides to help the dragonfly who sent the letter and learns that maybe he is brave like his grandmother. Despite making new friends, he still believes the best place to be is safe at home. Nurk is a likable hero, and the tale is light-hearted and humorous. The full-cast narration gives each character a unique personality. The narrator, Bill Knowlton, does an excellent job of presenting the suspenseful moments. An excellent, entertaining listen for classroom use.—Sarah Flood, Breckinridge County Public Library, Hardinsburg, KY

School Library Journal

A reclusive young shrew develops a taste for adventure in this short, witty debut. With the example of his long-absent grandmother Surka-"a fighter, a dishwasher, and a pirate queen"-before him, little Nurk stocks up an empty shell he calls the Snailboat and sets off downriver in response to a letter pleading for unspecified help. That plea comes, as it turns out, from Scatterwings, a thoroughly adolescent dragonfly princess whose royal brother Flicker has been captured by the Grizzlemole, a blind enchanter of mountainous size. The occasional fluidly drawn black-and-white scenes depict a particularly tiny and timorous-looking rodent, but Nurk shows heart aplenty in taking on a series of eldritch challenges-and he returns home afterward bolstered by a new self-assurance likely to spur him on in sequels to search for his lost grandparent. Nurk's adventure, and the tone in which it's related, will remind readers of Stuart Little's quest. (Fantasy. 10-12)

Kirkus Reviews

When Nurk, an unadventurous shrew, inadvertently receives a plea for help addressed to his warrior-like grandmother, he attempts to return the letter to its sender, a response that ultimately sends him on the adventure of his timid little life. This full-cast audio production chronicles how Nurk faces down his many fears and is able to provide help. Bill Knowlton, a tirelessly enthusiastic reader, sets up the cast's voices well. Everyone’s willingness to enjoy this small story does much to enhance the listener's pleasure in it. Younger listeners will be engaged by the vocal variety demonstrated, though others may wonder at some choices, such as why a hummingbird's voice is so guttural and tough, or why the grandmother’s is that of a little girl. J.C.G. © AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine

OCTOBER 2009 - AudioFile