Gorgeous artwork, very reminiscent of graphic designs (makes sense, as the creator is a graphic artist)

A Funny Little Bird

by Jennifer Yerkes

Sourcebooks Jabberwocky

2013

48 pages



Whimsical, tender, and terrific, A Funny Little Bird will entertain young readers. A lonely little bird who feels invisible and unappreciated dresses up in finery borrowed from nature--feathers borrowed from another far pretttier and ostentacious bird and beautiful leaves from plants and flowers, and he gets noticed for the first time.



Sometimes it's better in life to go unnoticed and under the radar. When the bird attracts the attention of a hungry fox, he realizes his mistake. He sheds his borrowed finery and becomes special once again. He makes friends who accept him as he is.



Illustrations by the author use whitespace (negative space) to show the bird. Color illustrations around the bird show his presence.This children's book is innovative and interesting. "Something truly new..." raves Bologna Children's Book Fair Honor Award (from the cover).



Highly recommended age 4-up.

A funny little bird is void of color, making him invisible, but others made fun of him. He decides to make a change and collects bits of beautiful things he finds under his wings. He soon becomes proud and shows off so much that a fox takes notice and nearly catches him. He decides to leave his treasures behind and return to being invisible, understanding why he was made that way. He finds he can make his friends invisible when danger come, too. Now he has made friends and only shows off for fun.

"A Funny Little Bird" follows a white bird who cannot be seen. When the bird becomes lonely he becomes going out of his way and doing things just to be noticed. The bird then becomes not himself. Afterwards the bird realizes why he is special and begins to embrace that part of himself. This story is very excellent for children as its main theme is to be yourself. This theme is excellent and many children can benefit from it.

I absolutely adored Jennifer Yerkes' A Funny Little Bird. This read aloud shares the story of a little bird who is a bit difficult to see and, therefore, often overlooked and ignored. Sad and lonely, the funny little bird tries different tactics to draw attention to himself, only to find out that being seen has its consequences as well. The little bird quickly learns that being himself, near invisibility and all, has its own advantages.

Utilizing bright, minimalist illustrations and a touch of humor, A Funny Little Bird sends an important message about embracing one's physical differences. The text is also minimal, letting the illustrations guide the story, making it perfect for interactive reading aloud and great stepping stone for early readers.

Themes: Self-esteem, Friendship, Individuality, Creativity ( )