Review by Booklist Review
Colored by Tabor's characteristic flair for humor and surprise, cranky, crabby Crow turns out to be a secret agent tasked with saving the world! Initially, the crow doesn't seem special. Squirrel, Hummingbird, Bat, Rat, and Cat try to get him to do fun things with them, but Crow isn't interested. To them, he's just sitting on a wire, being unwelcoming. The narrative takes a turn when a nearby service phone rings. Crow has been on a mission, and the first objective was to clear the area. Jumping inside a secret phone-pole elevator takes the crow to a hideout that includes a rocket ship. Agent Crow has to intercept an asteroid heading for Earth. Hitting it with missiles and lasers breaks it into small, harmless pieces. The animals interact on an uncluttered background, which keeps the action of the story tightly focused. The sudden twist from simple animal communications to agent duties is a fun surprise that children will love. In a further challenge to expectations, Crow then invites the other animals over to view a beautiful meteor shower.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
The stoic corvid at the center of this picture book sits waiting on a telephone wire at story's start, shown with a small body; a huge, glistening eye; and a curiously blank expression. Soon, Squirrel romps along the wire, inviting the bird to help scatter garbage all over the street. Crow responds with a single, abrupt sound: "KAW!" "Wow. Rude," Squirrel replies. Next, Hummingbird darts and dances in front of Crow: "Wanna race? Wanna do tricks?" Crow responds the same way, then rejects other friendly overtures--so many, in fact, that nearby Cat admonishes the bird: "If you're not careful, you might find yourself all alone." But after Cat leaps into a firefighter's waiting arms, a surprise signal kicks off a startling, high-octane plot turn that works out flawlessly for all. Clever pacing, bone-dry humor, and visual surprises distinguish this wildly entertaining picture book from Tabor (Ursula Upside Down), whose ability to conjure up a fully fleshed-out scenario in just a few strokes contributes significantly to the action. A secret code concludes. Ages 4--8. (May)
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Review by Horn Book Review
Crow is waiting at his spot on the telephone wire when along comes Squirrel, who tries to interest Crow in ripping open garbage bags with her. Crow dismisses Squirrel with a "KAW!" Next is Hummingbird, who wants to race. Then Rat. Then Bat. Crow chases each of them away with a "KAW!" When Cat lectures Crow about his aloofness, readers will think they have this book figured out -- but that's when the phone starts to ring. Caldecott honoree Tabor (Mel Fell, rev. 3/21) renders his round-eyed characters in chalky neutrals that stand out against the softest of blue skies. The phone is red, calling attention to itself once it appears on the page, even before it rings. It turns out that Crow is a special agent tasked with destroying an asteroid that's headed straight for Earth. Here, the illustrations grow more detailed with a secret underground lair, a rocket ship, and missiles. After a successful mission, Crow returns to Earth, and night slowly falls over the course of a few pages while he gathers the other animals for a final friendly flourish. The book layers humor and whimsy over a tight plot and controlled design, playing with readers' expectations and delivering multiple twists in a compact package. Adrienne L. PettinelliJuly/August 2025 p.86 (c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Crow sits on a telephone wire as various animals approach, cajoling him into playing. Crow utters one word--"KAW"--to all, even Hummingbird, who invites him to "race-n'-do-tricks-n'-loops." Is Crow just standoffish? It turns out he has more on his mind than silly games. He is a secret agent with an important mission--to save the world from a giant asteroid hurtling toward Earth. As in earlier titles, such as the Caldecott Honor--winningMel Fell (2021), Tabor plays with the physical format of the picture book, depicting Crow descending an elevator inside the telephone pole; down, down, down he goes to reveal a spaceship waiting for blast-off. The minimalist design features simple animal figures performing a high-wire act against a soft pale background. The tale also exhibits a faultless sense of timing and a delicious touch of drama as Crow awaits orders. A delightfully understated droll humor is in play as Crow saves the world by pressing first the "button for missiles," then the "button for lasers" (other options include "bubbles" and "cupcakes"). In addition to being a clever caper, with its recurring pattern of Crow uttering only one word and its use of rhyming words--rat,bat,cat--this story also makes a wonderful option for burgeoning readers. Adding to the fun is a secret code to decipher on the endpapers. Storytelling at its most brilliant--and whimsical.(Picture book. 3-6) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
