Beloved author and illustrator David Graham has produced yet another beautiful picture book. How to Heal a Broken Wing tells the story of a pigeon that falls out of the sky and lands in the middle of a busy city. No one seems to notice this poor bird, except for a little boy named Will. With the help of his mother he brings the bird home. Will and his parents nurse the bird back to health and mend its broken wing until finally the pigeon is able to fly away and rejoin the other birds in the wild.The illustrations are done in a very similar style to David Graham's other books (think "Let's Get a Pup!" Said Kate), but the lighting and the sparsity of text makes the images incredibly powerful. This is a soothing story and the bird's successful recovery is incredibly uplifting. Perfect for those seeking stories about healing broken bones, taking care of wildlife, or simply a story with a happy ending.
Overall Grade: A+
This fabulous book has reminded me of other great books about birds:
The True Story of Sellina by Italian-American author Matteo Pericoli contains many similarities to David Graham's book as both describe a bird alone in the city who needs help. Instead of having a broken wing, however, little Stellina has abandoned her nest as a baby and is unable to care for herself until Pericoli's wife Holly finds her and takes her in. Pericoli describes how Holly would take care of the little bird and how Stellina would become a part of their lives. Touching and sweet, the text is written in what seems to be lines of free verse poetry
Overall Grade: A+
How to Paint the Portrait of a Bird is an adaptation of a poem by 
French author Jacques Prevert. Translated and illustrated by award-winning illustrator Mordicai Gerstein, it is a beautifully poetic story that is not so much about healing or even birds, but about the power of art. The story provides instructions on capturing a bird to paint, beginning with directions to sketch an inviting birdcage to attract the bird. The fantasy of this procedure is whimsical and filled with child-like creativity as it celebrates the creative process and creative solutions to difficult problems. The illustrations are beautifully rendered and seem to call to mind the very portrait that the poem calls its readers to paint.
French author Jacques Prevert. Translated and illustrated by award-winning illustrator Mordicai Gerstein, it is a beautifully poetic story that is not so much about healing or even birds, but about the power of art. The story provides instructions on capturing a bird to paint, beginning with directions to sketch an inviting birdcage to attract the bird. The fantasy of this procedure is whimsical and filled with child-like creativity as it celebrates the creative process and creative solutions to difficult problems. The illustrations are beautifully rendered and seem to call to mind the very portrait that the poem calls its readers to paint.Overall Grade: A+
1 comment:
The CCBC just gave their big award to the first book on your list here.
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