Meet Reba by Stephanie Wheeler

We're heading to Africa today with what promises to be a cute picture book about a rhinoceros and an oxpecker. I found the cover inviting and was curious to learn more about this pair, especially since I'm not knowledgeable on oxpeckers. In other words, there should be something to learn in these pages, too.

Let's just jump right in and see what these two are up to.

MEET REBA

by Stephanie Wheeler

Illustrated by Annika Chambers

Spinning Wheel Stories

Picture Book

42 pages

ages 4 to 11

Reba is brave, strong, and fiercely independent—she can do almost everything on her own. But when it comes to learning how to ride a bike, she discovers that accepting help doesn’t make her any less capable. It just means she has someone cheering her on.

Inspired by the natural symbiotic relationship between rhinos and oxpeckers, this heartwarming story celebrates both self-reliance and the quiet magic of friendship.

Every illustration was lovingly created by hand over the course of several months, bringing Reba’s vibrant world to life with warmth, whimsy, and thoughtful detail.

GOODREADS     /     AMAZON

MY TIDBITS

An energetic and friendly rhinoceros invites readers into her adventure with a lovely sense of familiarity and fun.

Reba is a rhinoceros, who is ready to do all sorts of things...and she can do so many things on her own. From tying her shoes to making the swing soar, she is able to handle so much. She isn't scared to try out new things, either. So when she has the chance to ride a bike, she's ready to give it a go. Unfortunately, it isn't as easy as she thought it might be, but she's not one to easily seek help from others, either.

The illustrations make this read adorable and Reba extremely likeable. The personality comes to life with a fun atmosphere as the world hold bright hues. The text flows well as a read-aloud and also works for those readers, who are more sure of their words. But what really draws in are the very familiar activities Reba has mastered. These are things that readers themselves must or have already learned. Add Reba's pride at being able to do these 'big' things, and she's a character many will have no problem connecting with. Then, there's her friend, the bird, who adds a lovely sense of friendship and shows that getting along with others, sometimes, requires a bit of patience.

The main message of the read centers around Reba's unwillingness to seek help when she needs it. This comes across loud and clear but still doesn't smother Reba's bright personality. The read is still fun. At the end of the book, there's a page which explains the relationship between rhinoceros and oxpeckers. This is written for the adult or advanced readers and works as an extra discussion to share with listeners. I do wish this aspect had been worked into the story just a little bit more, so readers/listeners might have take the knowledge in during the story. But those are just my side-thoughts, since the story is totally fine how it is. Also, I would recommend this one for the solid, 4 to 8 picture book age group.

You can learn more about the author and tales HERE