Edward the Emu is bored, and who wouldn't be? Edward lives in a zoo. Sheena Knowles instantly identifies an important topic--the zoo. Just look at the cover art by Rod Clement. He's given an emu an expression of tedium. Perhaps every child can empathize with the look on Edward's face.
This story is a variation on the theme of trying alternative selves. Emu's journey starts out self-directed. He's sure that seals have more fun diving in the water and balancing balls. So, Edward leaves his pen and spends a day with them. Edward's motivation changes when he hears men compliment other animals. (Yes, every comment from the crowd is from a man.) After sampling other lifestyles, Edward returns to his own home where he finds a female emu "with a shy little smile."
The illustrations made me pick up this book, then, I was disappointed with the text. I wish Edward's choices continued to be reflective and not determined by a human visitor. Even his return to the emu cage is not because he found personal satisfaction in his emu identity. Discovering a demure female emu on his return was not a satisfactory conclusion for me.
Silviya V Murphy has Edward the Emu Wordsearch. Webb of Teaching has Edward the Emu Rhyming Word Flashcards.
