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I was inspired to write Ursamer becuase I wanted to find a unique way to present the Earth's crisis to children. I see this as a story for parents and teachers to read to gifted children.
I also hope it creates intergenerational environmental understanding and stewardship. In this regard, Ursamer is part of a five book series based on eco themes - there's a book for all age groups.
Reviewed by Rachelle Smith for Readers' Favorite
Ursamer: An Eco Short Story For Children (Treasury of Feel-Good Stories) by Karina McRoberts is a fable replete with symbolism. In this short chapter book, the protagonist Ursamer journeys with her ever-hungry pup, Nuga, in search of someone who might help her. Ursamer is far from home, and she is very different from the people she encounters in each chapter. Each time she appears, with her block of ice trailing behind her on a sled, she is hopeful that someone will know how to help her.
Ursamer’s speech shows that she isn’t native to the places in which she appears. Readers know from the subtitle that this is an eco story, but the characters are completely ignorant of Ursamer’s mission. The language of McRoberts' story is intelligently crafted and it needs a reader who looks beyond the superficial. This allegory about a heavily contested world issue expects a certain amount of decoding. A few photographic images are included in each chapter. The characters in Ursamer are beautifully rendered. Each is given a unique personality and their encounters with Ursamer seem genuine. Young Bailey, whose internal dialogue is shared, is presented as both intelligent and empathetic and as someone that a young reader might relate well to. Karina McRoberts' Ursamer could find a place in a middle-grade classroom, especially one that discusses allegory and symbolism.
