True Stories of Animal Heroes: Onyx by Vita Murrow is the second story in this series that I have read. Much like the first it highlights an animal who is a hero in a unique way. Onyx is one of the wolves relocated back into Yellowstone National Park. He grows up to be a kinder alpha leader than what is expected in the wolf world. I found his story to be quite interesting as well as my granddaughters did.

The text is such that primary grade students can read it without much trouble. The third grader in my family had no problem at all but the kindergartener just enjoyed having to read to her. The text is clear and concise so that comprehension is easy. I liked the illustrations for the most part but found a couple of pages so dark that it made the reading of it a bit difficult. I will say I have only read the digital ARXC so the print copy may be just fine but still it lost a star for that from me.

As always we all enjoyed the photographs and real information at the end of the book. It is always a favorite part of the book.

The publisher through Net Galley provided a digital ARC. I have voluntarily decided to read and review, giving my personal opinions and thoughts.

Thank you to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group for kindly providing me with a digital copy of this book for review.
This is the second book in this animal heroes series which I have read and I have enjoyed both greatly, as have my children aged 5 and 8 years.
I will admit that they are animal obsessed so any book featuring animals is going to be a pretty easy sell to them, but they were certainly very taken with this story of Onyx and really loved the artwork. My eldest was especially interested to learn that this story is based on an actual animal, and there are photographs at the end of the book along with a little biography.
These books work well as a calming bedtime story, but also are quite informative and educational- it highlights the impact of humans on the natural world, and the work done by some people to try and counteract the negative elements.
My eldest son has told me he’s going to look for this book in the library when he can next go so I think that could probably be taken as an endorsement!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group – Frances Lincoln Children's Books for my copy of True Stories of Animal Heroes: Onyx The Wolf Who Found a New Way to be a Leader by Vita Murrow in exchange for an honest review. It publishes March 2, 2021.
This book helps explore the issues if something is taken out of, or added into a food chain. The story has a good moral to it. Also, teaching the chain reaction of food chains through story is great! The illustrations are gorgeous, too!

The story of Onyx, an alpha wolf in Yellowstone Park, is part of the True Stories of Animal Heroes line of books. Onyx is a wolf who's always been a bit different. As he grows and leads his own pack, he finds new ways to be a leader and coexist with other wolves.

The story is told simply by Vita Murrow and the illustrations by Anneli Bray are soft, appealing watercolors that capture all of Nature's shades. Children will learn about how animals cooperate and live together in a small community. This book will make them want to read the others in the series.

Recommended.

I received and advance copy from NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group – Frances Lincoln Children's Books in exchange for my honest review.

I really love these true animal stories, and this one is no exception. A captivating story (yes, I am saying that about a picture book) about the wolves of Yellowstone and how one's wolf's unique personality changed the legacy of wolves at that park. I loved the illustrations and the way the story was presented.

A wonderful and beautiful book about Onyx the wolf, who lives in Yellowstone National Park. Onyx is a wolf who is different from his siblings. He is caring, thoughtful, and patient. I loved how this book emphasizes that being selfless and caring are important leadership qualities.

Thank you Quarto Publishing Group – Frances Lincoln Children's Books and NetGalley for providing this ARC.

Hmmm... I'm less sure of this series, having had a second look at it. Fluffles the koala was not really a legendary critter, he just hid up a tree with no other option when there was a forest fire, and now we come to Onyx, one of the wolves reintroduced to Yellowstone in a project that had such a cascading and positive effect on all kinds of flora and fauna it was worthy of a book in itself (luckily I've read one of those for this age range before – https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3087457778?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1). Except he was not called Onyx, and his story here is so anthropomorphised I cannot really tell the truth of it. Even with the brief teachers' notes end-matter I cannot really work out how and why the real Wolf 8 managed to generate a new philosophy of behaviour amongst the animals that came after him.

Also, in the hands of this writer, it becomes almost something that is not about wolves, for the ridge Onyx lived on becomes a kind of lupine hippy commune, with all the wolves "who dared to be different" allowed to hang out, turn vegan, smoke pot, knit rainbow flags made of dried fungus and question how many genders wolves might have. I exaggerate, obviously, but the right-on message is one more example of this being less about the animals and more about – well, I'm not sure what really. Once again the definition of this as being about an 'animal hero' is a bit off.

Still, for the target audience this is a cute book – the artwork is wonderful and then some, and there is a kind of story whose anthropomorphic qualities and seeming social engineering intent will pass them by. This will not stay unread on those school library shelves with the design and cutesiness here, but again I still have issues with it.

The illustrator of this title clearly loves and closely observes nature. The pages are a delight to view.

The book tells the story of the wolves who were reintroduced to Yellowstone National Park after a number of years of absence. In particular. readers get to know Onyx, a somewhat timid wolf when the story opens but…as the author notes, he had his own way of thinking. Watch what happens when Onyx gets to know Bravo, a wolf from a family not his own and look to see what Bravo does when he becomes a grown wolf.

This title should be enjoyed by young animal lovers and conservationists.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title. All opinions are my own.

I recived an advance copy of, True Stories of Animal Hereos: Onyx. I really like this series of book. Onyx is a wolf, but he is not like other wolves, like Bravo. This is a great story for kids. Its ok to be different.