Review of The Unique Friendship of Grover and Steve

[Rishaunda Lynnette Britton]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Unique Friendship of Grover and Steve" by Lee Cherry.]

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4 out of 5 stars

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Grover, a donkey, and Steve, an ostrich, are different from each other in several ways, ranging from their bodies' structure to their way of life, but they somehow learn to accommodate their differences and forge great friendships. This does not go down well with other animals living in the Great Plains, especially Grover's fellow donkeys, but Grover and Steve are determined to maintain their friendship and are ready to endure every mockery and isolation. Soon, an incident occurs in the Great Plains, and no one ever expected who would save that situation. There are lessons to be learned.

The Unique Friendship of Grover and Steve is a children's story written by Lee Cherry. I found the story interesting and was always anticipating and wondering what next turn Grover and Steve's friendship would take, given that most animals in the plains considered their friendship incompatible. I also appreciated the simple word choices used in the narrative, which should make it very easy for children to read the story.

Furthermore, the story teaches children invaluable lessons that are very much needed in this time of prevalent quest for external validations and divisive ideologies. Among others, the story criticizes any forms of bigotry, encourages respect for other people's identity (be it their body structure, race, or gender), and celebrates the beauty of being courageous to walk alone—if it comes to that—in adherence to one's values and convictions. Grover, Steve, the leader of the donkeys, and the leader of the ostriches perfectly represented the themes explored in this story. This is a well-edited work. I didn't find any grammatical errors in it.

However, there are some areas that I think need improvement. Although the illustrations served their basic functions of complementing and adding depth to the story, the quality didn't impress me much. I would have appreciated clearer and richer paintings. Also, the narrative about Grover and Steve's defense of the plains didn't appear convincing to me. I think creating a more organized and larger number of participants in the defense (which should include more dangerous animals like hyenas and elephants) or giving Grover and Steve special powers to match the task at hand would make things more realistic.

I am removing one star due to the above issues and giving this book four out of five stars. The Unique Friendship of Grover and Steve, written by Lee Cherry, is recommended for readers aged six to eight. I am confident they will be impacted by the great values explored in this story.

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The Unique Friendship of Grover and Steve
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[Priya Murugesan]

I always love children stories especially animal stories. I loved reading your review and I believe me and my kids would enjoy this story.

[George Nduuru]

You conducted such a thorough review. Children should learn valuable lessons from the children's book The Unique Friendship of Grover and Steve, especially about unity and togetherness. According to you, if there was an issue in the animal community, then unity was necessary to defend the cause.

[Alex Lynn]

The positive aspects of the story, such as the interesting narrative, simple word choices suitable for children, and the valuable lessons it imparts, are well-praised. The focus on themes like critiquing bigotry, promoting respect for diversity, and celebrating courage aligns with the your commendations.

[Vinay Penubothu]

Thank you for your detailed review! Your insights have piqued my interest, and I'm excited to dive into the book. Your review convinced me it's a must-read. Thanks for sharing your thoughts - they've inspired me to explore further

[Anil Baade]

Thank you for your valuable insights about this book. You've explained about the book very well. I'll definitely add this to my reading list

[Leen282]

A children's book showing friendship between two very different animals, sets a great example. It doesn't matter what you look like or how you are build. No grammatical errors and easy words are necessary for me in children's books, happy to see this book lives up to expectations.

[Rebecca De Figueiredo]

I noted the reviewer’s criticism of the book, but more than that, their enjoyment of it. The animals chosen were the easily recognisable donkey and the more obscure ostrich (at least to children who don't live in Africa). The illustrations were a tad lacking in depth, I agree, but the overall story was charming.

[Sushan Ekanayake]

"The Unique Friendship of Grover and Steve" by Lee Cherry is a heartwarming children's book about an unlikely friendship between a donkey and an ostrich, challenging prejudice and embracing individuality. A great read for kids with important lessons on respect, courage, and standing by one's values. Congratulations on being BOTD!

[Stephanie Gail Stephen]

This children's book sounds like a great book for a child to learn some life lessons on differences. I agree with the reviewers comments on the illustrations.

[Shagun Chauhan 3]

I love to read children book even though I am an adult. Just like you said we need teach invaluable lesson to children but I think it will teach some good lesson to adults too. Great review.

[Rupali Mishra]

Congrats on BOTD.
In her children's book The Unique Friendship of Grover and Steve, Lee Cherry demonstrates how companionship shared by two completely separate creatures may be an excellent portrayal. The narrative was endearing throughout.

[María Andrea Fernández Sepúlveda]

Now more than ever, kids and adults need to learn to appreciate and thrive in differences and stand up for their beliefs. This book seems like a great way to create a kinder world. Thank you for your review.

[Alida Spies]

Obviously the ostrich and the donkey found common ground, perhaps in their hearts and minds, rather than in their appearance. The animals act just like people do, condemning what they don't understand. Looks like there are lots of lessons for children to learn, starting with enduring unpleasant reactions to maintain what one finds precious. Thank you for your informative review.

[Shirley Ann Riddern Labzentis]

Great review! This sounds like a cute little story that teaches children about racism and bigotry. Graphics for a children's book need to be engaging for the children otherwise, they are not interested in the story.