Oh my word. I don't even know where to start with this book.

The illustrations are STUNNING. It conveys the story so beautifully....which makes me wonder if there is any Caldecott contention for it. No seriously. I felt the pain of the scarecrow when he is lonely. I felt his joy with the baby crow. Oh my goodness.

It's also a story about loving the unlovable. About how there is more to a person than meets the eye. I want to do this book in My First Books and see how it translates. ( )

Genre
Picture books for children
Tone
Inspiring
Moving
Writing Style
Thoughtful
Illustration
Realistic
Theme
Unlikely friendships
Subject
Crows
Friendship
Scarecrows

Mentioned in a blog post at https://booksbeyondbinaries.blog/2019/12/23/2019-in-review/

A moving story about the unlikely friendship between an injured baby crow and a lonely scarecrow. Nicely illustrated by the Fan brothers, but overshadowed by Beth Ferry's rhymes and her message. ( )

Beautiful, stunning, lovely and it had the ability to transport me to a lovely place when carefully studying the images that are so very well illustrated.

The scarecrow stands alone in the field. He has no company. He cannot bend, nor can he be sheltered from the cold elements, or the burning sun that makes him wish he could reach to remove his hat.

Sad, dejected, alone, one day a surprise happens. Plop, from the sky is that sound and the scarecrow cannot ignore the small black shape at his feet. Broken body and wings, the scarecrow discovers he can reach down if he puts a lot of energy into the feat and then tries to do so.

Overjoyed, he places the bitty baby crow in his front pocket. And, now he has purpose and takes care of the baby through the snow, rain and sun. Until, the baby becomes well, and the scarecrow continues to feel alive and glorious.

But, as he knew, but didn't want to admit, the crow is grown and healthy, and he must fly away.

With a sense of sadness and pride, the scarecrow lets him use his healed wings to fly away. He's done a good deed, why should he feel so sad.

And, then, on a day like no other, the crow sits on the fence where the scarecrow can see him, and then he gently lands back where he belongs, and the two once again thrive. ( )