Tag, the smallest Owl of Valor trainee; his squirrel friend Skyla; and "the last firehawk" Blaze must find four pieces of a magical stone with the power to stop the spread of dark magic through their enchanted home of Perodia. The dearth of early-chapter-book high fantasies may help this series find an audience, regardless of its formulaic plots and lifeless digital illustrations.

The first entry in the Last Firehawk series introduces the whimsical adventures of a brave little owl and his friends.In the land of Perodia, a dark Shadow encroaches on Valor Wood. The evil vulture Thorn (who, oddly, doesn't appear in this first book though he's mentioned in the introduction) controls The Shadow's dark magic, aiming, for reasons unknown, to destroy the beautiful forest. Enter Tag, a small barn owl with big dreams. He longs to join the Owls of Valor, a group of warriors who protect Valor Wood from threats like Thorn and The Shadow. When Grey, their wise old leader, forbids all animals from entering the treacherous Howling Caves, Tag sees his chance to prove his bravery. Tag and his best pal, Skyla, a mischievous, slingshot-wielding girl squirrel, set off to investigate the caves, where they find a mysterious golden egg. Soon, the egg hatches the eponymous last firehawk, whom Tag names Blaze. Firehawks are magical birds, long thought extinct, who guard the Ember Stone against any who might use it for ill. Unfortunately, the Stone is broken and scattered about Perodia. Tag, Skyla, and Blaze must race to collect the Stone's pieces before Thorn can get his vile talons on them and destroy the world. The black-and-white sketches depict Disney-esque, wide-eyed animals, while onomatopoeia pops off the page at regular intervals. The story is heavy on dialogue, with no shortage of exclamation points, keeping the energy level high and pages turning. A promising start to a series for fledgling fantasy readers. (Animal fantasy. 6-9)

Gr 1-2The first book in this new series brings the animal fantasy genre to early chapter book readers. Tag is a young owl in the magical forest of Valor Wood, hoping to become a warrior and protect the forest as an Owl of Valor. When Tag and his best friend, a squirrel named Skyla, find a golden egg and witness the birth of a rare firehawk, they have the opportunity to prove their bravery as they travel with the baby bird to find the Ember Stone. Under the threat of the evil Thorn, the three creatures journey to Fire Island, meeting dangerous foes and friendly helpers along the way. The story ends on a cliffhanger that leads directly into the second of four planned titles for the series. The adventure is nonstop, making this an ideal choice for reluctant readers. The characters are engaging, especially Skyla, although the large number of characters and location names may overwhelm brand new readers. Detailed black-and-white illustrations blend well with the text, and will keep kids engaged. VERDICT A strong beginning to an adventure series for chapter book readers, especially those who are not quite ready for Erin Hunter's "Warriors" or Kathyrn Lasky's "Guardians of Ga'Hoole."Casey O'Leary, Mooresville Public Library, IN