I am about to start reading Enna Burning by Shannon Hale (Thanks, Margaret!), but in the mean time, I'll do a picture book for youse guys.

Brave Charlotte is about a flock of sheep. Charlotte is not like the other sheep, who sit around and eat grass and not much else. Charlotte goes on adventures, climbing trees, mountains, and swimming through streams. One day the shepherd falls and breaks his leg, and as Jack, the sheepdog is too old to make it all the way to the valley, Charlotte goes in his stead. She brings the farmer back, and all's well that ends well.

Although I have liked Henrike Wilson's art in other books, I don't think his illustrations were goofy and light-hearted enough for a book about a sheep who climbs trees. I also thought parts of the story seemed odd. When Charlotte makes the trek to find the farmer, it takes almost all night. And why is Jack the sheepdog not retired if he is too old to get help? I was also enjoying, in the first few pages, the refrain of the older sheep whenever Charlotte has another adventure. Tut tut tut! they said. But about half way through the book, the stopped tutting and moved on to other exclamations.

Although I liked the message about individuality, I don't think this one had the extra something special that a great picture book has.

Brave Charlotte written by Anu Stohner illustrated by Henrike Wilson
ISBN 074758043X
32 pages