Details
Synopsis
A bird falls out of his nest while trying to fly and has encounters with several animals before he finds success.
| Size | | Height: | 9.8 in | | Width: | 11.3 in | | Thickness: | 0.5 in | | Weight: | 14.4 oz |
Industry Reviews
Ayto's (Mrs. Potter's Pig) comic verve sets this book apart from other entries in the baby-bird-learns-to fly genre. The hero, rendered in watercolor and ink, is an adorably goofy-looking fellow, with big anxious eyes, even bigger feet and a bright orange beak, who expresses an emotion somewhere between abject fear and grim determination. Ayto lays out the story in a series of rectangular panels that provide a visual pacing to match the step-by-step cadence of Dunbar's (Oops-a-Daisy!) pithy, expertly pared rhyming text: "This is the bird that climbed out of the nest and... flop flop flop... he fell." After being sniffed by a squirrel, buzzed by a bee and leapt over by a frog, the put-upon baby bird encounters a stalking cat and a yawning, large-mouthed dog (in these latter moments of high drama, Ayto breaks into double-page spreads). Shaken but unscathed, the baby bird gives flying "just one more try." His wobbly flight takes him over the heads of all the other animals and back to his nest a well-earned triumph likely to elicit shouts of glee from all who read along. Ages 2-5. (May)
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PreS When a little blue bird takes a clumsy first step out of his nest, he lands abruptly on the forest floor. Before the startled fledgling can recover, a curious squirrel comes along, scaring them both into retreat. Off stumbles the bird, meeting a string of creatures along the way a buzzing bee, a frolicsome frog, a stalking Cheshire-like cat, and a snoozing dog. Surviving each hazardous encounter, the youngster scales the dog, reaches the roof of its house, and finally tries his wings, making his precarious first flight over the heads of the animals. Repetition and a familiar rhythm make this a satisfying read-aloud for very young children ("This is the dog that opened wide and a bird that nearly walked inside"). Each line, set in large type, is positioned beneath panels of loosely rendered ink-and-watercolor illustrations, set against a pale speckled background. Muted and sometimes murky blues and greens set off brighter cartoon animals with exaggerated expressions. Wispy lines and crosshatching add texture, and Ayto's familiar contour line effectively mimics the bird's movement and shaky flight. A good choice for those looking to supplement their storytime collections. Paula A. Kiely, Milwaukee Public Library, WI
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