Stillwater and Koo Save the World

Stillwater and Koo Save the World by Jon J Muth (Scholastic Press) HB RRP $26.99 ISBN: 9781338812312

Reviewed by Kellie Nissen

Koo is a little panda with one very big idea. Bighearted Koo wants to fix all the things that are wrong, and save the world. Today. Of course, before Koo can make the world a better place, there are chores to be done – like tidying the bedroom, feeding Jasper the cat and clearing the leaves from the fishpond. Koo notices that simply completing these chores makes a difference: “I feel happy!”

Guided by Uncle Stillwater, Koo goes about making a difference in more lives – baking a welcome cake for their new neighbours and saving a family of ducks from an oncoming truck.

But, at the end of the day, has Koo saved the world?

Written and illustrated by Jon J Muth, Stillwater and Koo Save the World explores the importance of everyone doing their bit – no matter how small. Every little thing contributes to making the world a better place through small acts of kindness and care.

Walking alongside Koo and Stillwater as they go about their day encourages young readers (and older readers) to see that they can make a difference, and prompts adults to acknowledge that children, too, face many challenges and worries.

Jon J Muth’s watercolour and pencil illustrations set the perfect atmosphere for this gentle reflective story and readers will also delight in Koo’s words – always spoken in haiku.

Stillwater and Koo Save the World is a gorgeous, quiet story, targeted at readers aged from 4 to 8. However, I believe it is the perfect read for all ages.

Stillwater and Koo Save the World

Stillwater and Koo Save the World by Jon J Muth (Scholastic) PB RRP $17.95 ISBN 9781338812312

Reviewed by Kylie Buckley

Koo is a little panda with deep thoughts and big feelings. Stillwater is Koo’s kind, calm, and wise uncle. Koo is worried about the state of the world and wants to fix everything. At breakfast, Koo tells Uncle Stillwater about their aspirations to save the world. Stillwater encourages Koo to make a difference by starting where they are… by being kind to themselves, their family, animals, and neighbours.

Stillwater and Koo Save the World is an uplifting picture book that highlights the fact that every act of kindness, big or small, helps to make the world a better place. The beautiful tale and full-colour pencil and watercolour illustrations would appeal to an audience aged 4 years and older. Its themes include kindness, wellbeing, feelings, and values. An added feature of the narrative is that Koo only speaks in haiku, which is a great introduction to short form poetry for a young audience.

Stillwater and Koo Save the World is the first book in an upcoming series of four. Stillwater also features in Jon J Muth’s award-winning Zen book series and an animated children’s TV series.

Stillwater and Koo Save the World

Stillwater and Koo Save the World by Jon J Muth (Scholastic Press), RRP $26.99, Hardcover Picture Book, ISBN 9-781338-812312

Reviewed by Susan Hancy

Koo the young panda wakes up one morning and announces to his uncle, Stillwater, that he’d like to save the world today. “That’s a very big idea,” says Stillwater and proceeds to help Koo by tackling smaller tasks first, such as tidying his room and feeding their cat, giving Koo a sense of accomplishment. As the day progresses, while performing various deeds of kindness, they discuss Koo’s concern for the world being so large yet at the same time so delicate. At the end of the day, Koo wonders whether saving the world is even possible. Wise Stillwater assures him that each time he does something good, he saves the world a little bit and “you will do a little bit more tomorrow.”

Beautifully illustrated by the author-illustrator, the pictures convey calm purpose and serenity in nature. The story gives children and adult readers alike a sense of hope that by tackling the little things with care and kindness, we’re contributing to preserving the earth. The concept is appropriately targeted at children aged 4-7 years and particularly resonated with my son who comes up with similar questions to Koo.

Something to note for the adults reading this story to kids is that Stillwater is a Zen panda and Koo is speaking in haiku, which is a Japanese style of poem consisting of 3 lines and 17 syllables. Koo’s speech reads as quite formal and unusual for a character who is meant to be a child, so after I learnt why, I used it as a syllable counting game with my kids on a second reading.