Begonia has lost her cow Alfalfa. Alfalfa wondered off and seems to keep getting further and further ahead of Begonia. Along her journey Begonia is given a magical map by the Master Mapmaker, a pot of mustard from Madame Mustard-Maker and a bell and scarf from the Seller of Many Things. She also meets a young woman with a baby who gives her a hairpin and a woodcutter who gives her nothing. Then she meets Key, a young man far from home who is ready and willing to help a damsel in distress. Together Begonia and Key search for missing Alfalfa who they find with a strange man and an ostrich. It seems Alfalfa has fallen in love with the ostrich and won't be parted. The stranger, wearing silk pajamas and not seeming to know how to take care of himself, tries to convince Begonia and Key to help him. Then he is accused of kidnapping and killing the emperor and taken away to the dungeons. It is up to Begonia and Key to set things right.

I don't know if there could be a more charming book out there. I adored Julie Berry's new book. It is so different from her others with a much more light-hearted tone. However, there is a lot going on and it all seems to tie together at the end. The missing Alfalfa is the heart of this story as all the characters come together around her. Everyone seems to learn a bit about themselves and the world around them on this quest to find a missing cow and a missing emperor. The best part might be the cow/ostrich romance never before seen in literature. It is a story filled with heart and romance and ancestor spirits and an emperor learning about his people and evil usurpers and families coming together. I would highly recommend it.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley.

Julie Berry is one of the most enjoyable and versatile authors. No two books of hers are a like and yet each one is a delight of exquisite craftmanship. The Emperor's Ostrich is charming and hilarious, with just a hint of magic to propel the excitement of the plot. This is a must read!

Begonia is on the road looking for their cow, Alfalfa. She needs to be milked but she likes to wander. This time she has wandered into trouble...

Roaring Brook Press and Net Galley allowed me to read this for review. It will be published June 13th.

This is really the tale of a young emperor finally coming of age to lead his dynasty. His ancestors think he has been poorly trained, is rude and is not ready for the role. So he suddenly finds himself hanging from his window sill with only an ostrich to rescue him. The bird takes off and the poor young emperor finds himself in the woods. He's never ventured there before.

The ancestors help with Begonia's search, too, but not in the way she wanted it to go! Once she finds Alfalfa, she also finds the ostrich and the emperor. He's so rude, she sets out with her cow, but the ostrich follows and so does the emperor...

She has made a friend along the way named Key and he helps her through difficult circumstances. And, as the ancestors hoped, the hard time the young emperor has helps him realize how people feel about him and that he needs to make some improvements.

You meet odd people along the way, the faction at the castle who intend to replace the emperor are defeated and everything works out for the best. This is fun read with lots of action and smiles along the way. The ostrich is a fun part of the story; he made the story work.