Join us on an exhilarating escapade with Gracie the Burro, Bernie, Lova-Bull, and Mud Pie in The Great Animal Escape by Linda Harkey ... Get ready to embark on a rollercoaster ride, from facing off against four-wheeled monsters to braving the challenges of the great outdoors. As our brave animal heroes overcome obstacles with courage and teamwork, young readers will be inspired to discover their own inner strengths and embark on their own daring quests.

The Great Animal Escape / Author: Linda Kay Harkey / Illustrated by: Jeff Yesh / Publisher: Story Monsters® Press, 2024 / ISBN: 1589853202, 9781589853205

REVIEWS

The Great Animal Escape by Linda Harkey is an entertaining, beautiful children's book.It follows four animal friends (a bull, a cow, a burro, and a little raven) on a journey to freedom. A herd is about to be taken to cooking school to learn how to make hamburgers. Yet Lova-Bull, a small but powerful dark-red Hereford bull, and Mud Pie, a black Angus cow, decide to hide under a tree. They heard from Gracie the Burro that the herd wasn't going to cooking school to learn how to make hamburgers but that the hamburgers would be made out of them! Thus, Mud Pie and Lova-Bull, with the help of Gracie, want to escape to the Cow Retirement Ranch, where there's no gate, no fences, just happy cattle. But on their way to freedom, they must survive a big storm, a four-wheeled, two-eyed monster, and a mountain lion.

The Great Animal Escape is a funny, captivating story filled with heart-pounding adventure. Linda Harkey inspires young readers to find their courage, overcome obstacles, and help others. Readers will get a glimpse into what good friendship and teamwork look like and where courage, unity, and never giving up can lead them. The illustrator has done an excellent job of capturing the story's atmosphere. It is perfect for young adventurers ages 8 to 12 who like adventure, brave animal heroes, and lovely illustrations. This tale will win the hearts and minds of all who read it. The reading guide at the end of the book, containing questions and activities to accompany the story, is a thoughtful and great addition.

—Reviewed by Emma Megan for Readers’ Favorite, 5 Stars

The Great Animal Escape by Linda Harkey is one of those adorable little reminders that books don't have to be overly serious or have big, grand, awe-inspiring messages to be entertaining and enjoyable. They can just be simple, short, sweet, and... FUN!

We had such a great time reading The Great Animal Escape because of the adorable, goofy animal characters and the self-aware humor. We shared a lot of smiles, chuckles, and laughs, perhaps more than we've had in a while.

—Reviewed by Outstanding Creator Awards, Score: 9.4 out of 10

Engaging story best suited for confident young readers

The Great Animal Escape is a really nice children’s book with an engaging and well-told story. The illustrations are appealing and complement the narrative well, adding to the overall reading experience. That said, the book contains quite a bit of text, so it’s better suited for slightly older children—around 8 years and up—who are already confident readers. I really liked how the story unfolds and how it has been adapted in a way that works well for kids, making it both enjoyable and easy to follow. Overall, a lovely read that’s especially great for children who are ready for longer, more detailed stories.

—Reviewed by Suserla - Booksprout, 5 Stars

The Great Animal Escape (Story Monsters Little Read-Along Audiobook edition)

This was my first audio children’s book and I chose just right! Stuart Davis read with such enthusiasm and the different voices he used were just right. These differentiated voices set the stage for an exciting tale at a farm. The story itself was a delightfully written story of a group of farm animals working together to set out on an adventure and escape from the farm where they lived. The language throughout the book was vivid and descriptive allowing the reader to sit back and enjoy the story, all the while painting pictures of the action unfolding in this fun tale. 

Ms. Harkey created exciting animal characters that children aged 5 and up will enjoy getting to know as they listen to this story. They have endearing personalities that children will be able to relate to as they follow along in this adventure. 

There is an overall theme of: strength and team work. The farm animals must join forces as they plan their escape and their ultimate return to their home. Focusing on their strengths they brave new animals and excitement. And at the end, they realize that when the farm provides a warm and welcoming environment for the animals they don’t need fences to keep the animals inside. The questions at the end provide thoughtful reflections for children and ensure their retention of the info!

—Reviewed by Pam Morris, Early Childhood Director at the Early Learning Center at the East Valley JCC, 5 Stars

I had so much fun reading The Great Animal Escape by Linda Harkey! This story was full of adventure, humor, and heart. I would definitely recommend this book to kids who love animal stories, funny moments, and exciting escapes. What makes this book really special is the clever way it shows animals working together to avoid danger and find a better life, all while keeping readers entertained with silly jokes and brave actions.

The story is about a group of animals—Lova-Bull the bull, Mud Pie the cow, Gracie the brave burro, and Bernie the little raven—who try to escape from Cowlick Ranch when they find out the “cooking school” isn’t what it seems. I liked how every character had their own personality. Gracie was strong and smart, Lova-Bull was bold, Mud Pie was sweet and funny, and Bernie was small but very curious and brave. I especially laughed when Bernie got covered in poop and pretended it was a great disguise!

The illustrations by Jeff Yesh are amazing. They are full of action, color, and funny little expressions on the animals’ faces. The drawings helped me imagine every part of the story, like the storm, the escape, and even the scary mountain lion scene. The pictures made the book even more fun to read, and I think younger kids would love them too.

I also liked how the book showed the importance of friendship, teamwork, and standing up for yourself. The animals worked together to get away from danger, including dodging a truck and escaping a hungry mountain lion. I loved how the ravens came to the rescue in the end—it was like a superhero bird team!

If I had a classroom library, I would totally add this book. It’s perfect for ages 8–12, but even younger kids would enjoy it if someone read it to them. The book is exciting, easy to follow, and also teaches about courage and sticking together. I would also give this book as a gift to a friend who likes animals or adventure stories.

I give The Great Animal Escape a 5 out of 5 because it kept me turning pages, made me laugh, and left me feeling happy that the animals found a place where they could live in peace. I hope there’s a second part with more of their adventures!

—Reviewed by Parth Singla - Book Explorer, 5 Stars

The Great Animal Escape is a delightful middle-grade adventure that will captivate young readers with its humorous and heartfelt story.

Would you recommend this book? Why or why not?
Absolutely! I would recommend The Great Animal Escape for middle-grade readers, especially those who enjoy animal adventures and teamwork. The story is engaging, full of twists and surprises, and offers valuable lessons about friendship, problem-solving, and courage. It’s also packed with funny moments that make it a fun and lighthearted read.

What makes this book special or stand out from its competition?
What makes The Great Animal Escape stand out is the unique dynamic between the animals, each with their own quirky personalities and skills. Unlike other animal escape stories, this book weaves in an unexpected twist that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. The characters are so well-developed that you find yourself rooting for each one. Additionally, the underlying theme of working together despite differences adds depth to the fun adventure.

What are your thoughts about the illustrations? Do they help enhance the story? Why or why not?
The illustrations in The Great Animal Escape are fantastic. They not only complement the story but elevate it by adding humor and detail that enhance the reader’s imagination. The way the illustrator brings the animals' emotions to life through expressive faces and action-packed scenes helps readers feel more connected to the story. It’s the kind of book where the artwork and text work in harmony to make the reading experience even more enjoyable.

Would you consider adding this to your classroom, library, or buy it as a gift for someone else?
While I don’t have a classroom, as a cohost of The Storyteller’s Shelf Podcast, I would absolutely recommend featuring The Great Animal Escape in an episode. Its fun, adventurous plot and important themes make it a great book to discuss for middle-grade readers and educators alike. It’s also a wonderful gift for young animal lovers and would be a great addition to any home or school library. The story's humor and heart will resonate with listeners and readers of all ages.

—Reviewed by Theresa Maria Villarreal – Author for Adventures in Oculus Series, Co-host for The Storyteller's Shelf Podcast, 5 Stars

Join Lova-Bull (a bull), Cow Pie (a cow), Gracie (a donkey) and Bernie (a baby raven) as they embark on a thrilling escape! To avoid (what is implied as) the slaughterhouse, these four lovable characters journey to the Cow Retirement Ranch where they can live in peace. An exciting thunderstorm, a four-wheeled two-eyed monster, and a mountain lion inspire these companions to face challenges with whit, teamwork, and humor. You’ll want to keep turning the page to find out what happens next. Vibrant illustrations compliment the story so well with a beautiful color scheme and friendly characters. A wonderful, feel-good read, where all characters have opportunities to showcase their personalities and strengths. Highly recommend!

—Reviewed by Lindsay Moretti, 5 Stars

The Great Animal Escape by Linda Harkey is a book that offers both frolicking fun adventure and insightful life lessons. Through the characters Lova-Bull and Mud Pie, Harkey skillfully guides young readers into the understanding that all creatures should have the right to be free and to live their lives peacefully and without fear. Alongside this main theme, Harkey weaves wonderful characters into the narrative who exemplify friendship, comradeship, courage, and humor. This book was a delight in its joining of fun and insight, adventure and wisdom. It is one I will personally be sharing with my grandchildren and highly recommending to others. The illustrations by Jeff Yesh are gloriously unique, fanciful and fun. Bravo, Linda Harkey and Jeff Yesh on a job well done!

—Reviewed by Deborah Edmisten – Author, 5 Stars

This is a delightful book to share with the children in your lives. It is a story about the adventures of animals on the move to a happier place. Along the way new friends and foes are met. I highly recommend this book to read with or to gift to a child in your life.

—Reviewed by Missy Chiles – Teacher, 5 Stars

What a fun surprise to end up chuckling through this delightful book! Linda Harkey deftly leads the reader into a world where several animals, quirky and comical in character, are escaping from a trip to Cowlick Ranch where they may become, well....a meal. When troubles and disasters punctuate their newly hatched plan to get to the Cow Retirement Ranch, situations resolve with a touch of humor and whimsy. Illustrator Jeff Yesh's use of a pleasing palette of turquoise as a backdrop works superbly to depict the landscape intended, and he knows his way around creating scary, but not too scary expressions when the story calls for it. For readers who may have enjoyed Nicholas John Frith's "Hello, Mr. Dodo", you'll love this one.

—Reviewed by Raven Howell – Children's Writer, 5 Stars

JT CROWLEY, TALKING BOOKS