Magic Comes in Its Time

After Jonathan's mother tells him that the storks landed on her roof the day he was adopted, he longs for the storks to return so that his magical wish will come true.

Grade 3-5-Every year storks make their annual migration to Germany, settling in huge nests on the roofs of houses in quiet rural villages. Jonathan believes their first appearance always brings him luck, for when he was a newborn, their arrival coincided with his adoption by loving parents. Three years later, they came just as his family moved to Atlanta for an unusually long and happy stay. Now that the army has moved them back to Germany, he turns to the storks once again to ask for a little brother. When he learns that they no longer migrate to the now-busy village, Jonathan lures them back. Months later, when his wish finally comes true, he realizes that magic comes in its own time and not on demand. On the surface, Rabe's book holds enormous appeal for those interested in blending literature and science as well as for those eager for bibliotherapeutic stories. However, its flaws undercut its usefulness and entertainment value. To convey information about the birds' habits, Jonathan and his friend present lengthy, amazingly sophisticated lectures to their fellow students. These passages seem artificial and interrupt the flow of the story. In addition, the author's unfortunate use of the third person and abrupt handling of emotions make it difficult for readers to become involved and empathize with the characters. Bon-Ami's illustrations display a nice use of line and texture, and succeed in conveying the character's feelings at significant points in the story. Unfortunately, they are not abundant enough to overcome the weaknesses of the text.
Maggie McEwen, Coffin Elementary School, Brunswick, ME
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Returning to the Germany of his birth with his adoptive parents (Dad's a US Army doctor), Jonathan makes the mistake of confiding a beloved family story to his new class. It's true that his father brought him home as an orphan the day that storks settled on their roof, a lucky conjunction reported in the local papers at the time, but Jonathan's abbreviated version (``I was brought by the storks'') elicits only derision--especially from Robert. He and Jonathan are both fascinated by storks; each hopes to attract a pair back to a town whose rising population and ubiquitous TV antennas have made them abandon it; Jonathan also secretly hopes that storks' luck will bring him a sibling. At first, the boys trade information in unfriendly competition, but after Jonathan starts to build an inviting nest in a vacant field, the sparring becomes cooperation and, inevitably, friendship. It's too good to be true that storks choose the prepared site, and newborn twins become available for adoption soon after (while portrayal of the twins' birth mother's feelings and circumstances is, at best, simplistic). Still, the interaction of the boys is healthy and believable, the outcome is heartwarming, and Ben-Ami's sensitive b&w illustrations--whether of second-graders or of storks--are especially affecting. (Fiction/Young reader. 7-10) -- Copyright ©1993, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Gr. 3-5. Ben-Ami's gorgeous jacket painting will attract children into this pleasant, upbeat tale. Although Jonathan knows that storks don't really bring babies, he has always thought the birds lucky: After all, hadn't he arrived at his adoptive parents' home the very day the storks claimed a nest atop their house in Germany? Now, after years away, Jonathan's family is returning to the German town where he was born, and he can't wait to see the magical birds and have them get him what he wants most in the world--a baby brother. The crisp prose gives the book a rather formal feel, and, disappointingly, Rabe slides too quickly over some of the issues (among them, adoption and unwed pregnancy) she raises in the story. Fascinating information about storks keeps the plot anchored, though, and many children will empathize with Jonathan's innocent wish for a baby in the house. Although the internal illustrations were not seen at the time of this review, if they're anything like the dust jacket painting, readers are in for a treat. Stephanie Zvirin