Reading Metrics
Description
Toby leaps to the challenge of pushing an iceberg from the tip of Iceland to his thirsty cousins south of the equator. Joined on his adventure by a quirky collection of sea creatures, Toby soon learns how to be a true leader.
Quick Summary
If your kid loves silly, over-the-top adventure stories, Toby's Iceberg is a great pick. Toby comes up with the most ridiculous plan he's going to push an iceberg all the way from Iceland to his thirsty cousins near the equator and the book follows him as he actually tries to do it, teaming up with a cast of quirky sea creatures. It's got that same kind of whimsical, don't-give-up spirit you'd find in something like The Wild Robot, but with more humor and a younger, more bumbling hero at the center. The story has some genuinely funny moments, especially when things go wrong (and they go wrong a lot), but there's also a sweet thread about Toby learning what it really means to be a leader rather than just the kid with the big ideas. At around 23,000 words, it's a solid middle-grade read that won't intimidate less confident readers, and while there's some mild peril when the iceberg starts cracking, nothing gets too scary just enough tension to keep things exciting.