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.