School Library Journal Review
Gr 1-3-Wildlife photographer Eszterhas recounts her experience fostering an orphaned serval kitten named Moto, the Swahili word for fire, at the Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya. Eszterhas gently explains how Moto came to be separated from his mother and siblings (pesky tourists!) before chronicling her yearlong relationship with the creature. Anecdotes about feeding, grooming, and eventually teaching Moto how to hunt and survive in the wild are accompanied by stunning photos. Moto's curious and playful nature shines as he matures from an impossibly cute tiny kitten to a full-grown serval, climbing trees and stalking prey. The intimacy of the images is well suited to the personal story and will attract readers. Eszterhas emphasizes the great responsibility of returning Moto to the wild and the importance of his developing independence. The text also briefly describes the purpose of the Maasai Mara National Reserve, with an accompanying map of its location in Kenya, while the endnotes provide supplemental information about servals. VERDICT A tender and heartwarming account that's certain to delight children, especially animal lovers.-Kelly Topita, Anne Arundel County Public Library, MD © Copyright 2017. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
Wildlife photographer Eszterhas (the Wildlife Rescue series) offers a tender chronicle of her time living on the Masai Mara wildlife reserve in Kenya, where she raised an orphaned serval kitten. Eszterhas's sharp photographs preserve moments from her time with Moto, including cleaning and bottle-feeding the animal, as well as carrying him in a pouch during photography expeditions ("I felt like a kangaroo mom with her joey"). Eszterhas explains how she slowly began to reintroduce Moto to the natural world, allowing his survival instincts to develop. Moto's eventual return to the wild is poignant, but Eszterhas repeatedly emphasizes that living as a wildcat is best for Moto: "I love to picture him hunting in the long grass of the savanna, under the African moon." It's a vibrant, small-scale comeback story. Ages 7-10. (Apr.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Booklist Review
Wildlife photographer Eszterhas, creator of the Wildlife Rescue series (Sea Otter Rescue, 2016), offers up an account of the time she spent fostering a baby serval. Eszterhas first met the young wildcat when she was living in the Masai Mara wildlife reserve in Kenya. Lost during a grass fire and too young to survive on his own, the kitten was brought to a ranger station and later to animal-experienced Eszterhas, until he could return to the wild. Eszterhas, who named the kitten Moto after the Swahili word for fire, documents both life as photographer in a bush camp and the care she gave Moto, from brushing his fur with a toothbrush to teaching him to hunt. Moto eventually returns to the wild, and Eszterhas makes it clear that this is a happy ending. Her many photos of Moto, both as a fluffy-faced baby and an active, handsome adult, are the clear scene-stealers, but plenty of interesting facts on servals are included. More than one reader will consider following in Eszterhas' footsteps.--Reagan, Maggie Copyright 2017 Booklist
