Editorial Review
Nurk is a quiet homebody of a shrew. But when a mysterious plea for help arrives in the mail, he invokes the spirit of his fearless warrior-shrew grandmother, Surka, and sets off to find the sender. It seems the prince of the dragonflies has been kidnapped, and Nurk is his last hope for rescue. Such a mission would be daunting for even the biggest, baddest, and bravest of shrews, and Nurk is neither big nor bad, and only a little brave. But he does his very best--and hopes his grandmother would be proud.
Nurk is a warm, wonderful, and hilarious illustrated adventure about courage, family legacies, and friendships of a most unusual nature.
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Customer Reviews
Exciting Adventure 
2008-08-30
I read Nurk because I know Ursula as a friend, and I wanted to witness her work first hand. What I got was an adventure, suitable for any adult or young reader, that not only kept my interest, but left me wanting more. Great story, lots of strong writing, excellent plot twists, beautiful art work. In every way a great read. I'm not just saying that because she is a friend. I would say a lot of other wonderful things about this book, but the reviewers before me said it all. Just buy it! You will love it, and so will your kids!
A lovable and fun adventure read for the whole family! 
2008-07-31
This lovable tale about an unexpected hero had me laughing out loud. Easily as funny as Pratchett's best - but with a gentler, less satirical bent. This story quickly captivated myself, my son, and my wife with its wit, adventure, and sweetness respectively. An excellent book for families to read together.
A charming and funny book! 2008-06-18
I bought this book because I've been a fan of Ursula Vernon and her wonderful stories for a long time. Nurk is a great story of a young shrew and his amazing adventure as he sets out to answer a plea for help. Clean socks, nail polish in the color know as "Gorgeous Grape" and Nurk's Grandmother's diary are just some of the things that make this story a great read for children and adults alike.
Fun, and sweet. 2008-06-05
I bought this book because it's written by one of my favorite people in the world, and I like to help her keep food on the table. It also helped that I was already familiar with her writing style, which is highly entertaining.
Nurk is a children's book. Let's be clear on that. It's cute and has some fantastic images--I especially like the dragonflies are shrew-sized, four-armed dragons with insect wings. The quotes from Nurk's grandmother's journal are also welcomed and usually entertaining when they pop up.
I'd recommend it for a kid, if you've got one about 8-11. It's also got some dry jokes in it kids wouldn't get, so adults can get some entertainment out of it, too.
It's wonderful for all ages! 2008-05-08
Nurk is a delightful adventure story that's suitable for all ages, from 5 to 105, lovingly illustrated by the author, who is one of my favorite online artists.
I can hardly wait to see this made into an animated movie!
Excellent book! 2008-05-06
Nurk is a quiet homebody of a shrew. But when a mysterious plea for help arrives in the mail, he invokes the spirit of his fearless warrior-shrew grandmother, Surka, and sets off to find the sender. It seems the prince of the dragonflies has been kidnapped, and Nurk is his last hope for rescue. Such a mission would be daunting for even the biggest, baddest, and bravest of shrews, and Nurk is neither big nor bad, and only a little brave. But he does his very best--and hopes his grandmother would be proud.
Nurk is a warm, wonderful, and hilarious illustrated adventure about courage, family legacies, and friendships of a most unusual nature.
An all-around, soon-to-be classic 2008-05-02
If you're looking for a book the whole family can enjoy -- this is the book. If you're looking for a book for your pre-teens with a vocabulary-expanding text and winsome illustrations -- this is the book. If your child is not quite ready for the Redwall series, but you'd like to introduce them to that type of literature -- this is the book. If you're looking for something to read out loud to keep your children entertained on a wet summer afternoon or a long car ride, this is the book.
A wonderful tale 2008-05-01
I have loved Ursula's art for years, and have religiously followed her comic "Digger," so I came to this book expecting great things from Ursula as both a storyteller and an artist. I was not disappointed. Nurk is, of course, a children's book, and as such, lacks much of the overt darkness that characterizes some of her other work: instead, it is a light "There and back again" sort of adventure, beautifully told.
Nurk is a delightful character, whose bravery is altogether believeable; he starts out, as many heroes do, unsure of himself and of his courage, and grows into a hero. While his quest is of a standard sort (he must rescue a dragonfly prince), Ursula's delightful imagination imparts a unique wonder to the storyline and to his ordeal.
In some places, the prose is less than polished; but Ursula's occasional lapses in style are more than made up for by her sense of story -- which is glorious.
Several of Ursula's black and white illustrations also grace the pages of the book -- these are incredibly beautiful in their own right and add further depths of wonder to the book.
Surka's Grandson Gets an Adventure 2008-05-01
I have been a fan of Ursula's art for years, and I was thrilled for her when I found out she had gotten a book deal! And this book is everything I could have wished for--funny, and full of outstanding images painted by word as well as by pen. Being an adult, obviously I would have liked it to go on for a few hundred more pages, but the ending certainly leaves room for a sequel. I hope you enjoy it as much as my family and I did!
