Little Bird

July 1, 2020
A crow goes on a journey and is forever changed. An undersized crow, Little Bird is relegated to menial jobs in her flock. At the story's opening, she is watching the half-grown fledglings while the other crows do more important jobs. Then a cat comes, and chaos ensues. One fledgling is taken, and, nearly as bad, "Our Luck"--a shiny necklace woven into the rook's nest as a protective totem--is also gone. Little Bird, shamed, sets off to find it. The third-person narrative is told from Little Bird's point of view, and while she understands other animals' speech, they, with the exception of a wise goat, do not understand the language of crows. But understanding and comprehension are two different things, and there are many words Little Bird hears whose meanings she doesn't know. As Little Bird journeys farther away, she encounters unfamiliar concepts and continually tries to put them into context. This allegorylike story is brilliantly conceived, but its ruminative aspect is tedious at times. Little Bird's assessing each new experience based solely on what she currently knows is not unlike reading about someone inventing the wheel. Over and over. That said, flashes of bright humor burst joyfully, especially when the other animals talk, and the story's theme sneaks up on readers: Curiosity changes you, enriches you, and gives you choices. This quirky fable will either bemuse or beguile. (Fantasy. 8-12)

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July 27, 2020
From Newbery Medalist Voigt (Dicey’s Song) comes this story of a tiny, inquisitive crow tackling life’s big questions. The smallest in her flock, Little Bird is expected to protect fledglings from predators. A successive attack by a hawk, two cats, and a fisher, however, leaves one of her charges dead and the treasured Our Luck—a “golden chain... and milky drop of hard dew” that the crows believe lends them protection and prosperity—stolen. Though the other corvids doubt her, Little Bird sets off to locate the fisher, retrieve the trinket, and prove she’s worthy after all. She encounters all sorts of animals, tame and wild, through cleverly written interactions that portray their amusing thoughts and quirky behaviors. With each new encounter, Little Bird’s confidence and desire to learn more about the world grow, even as she increasingly recognizes dangers. Voigt’s craft is on full display in emotionally evocative scenes, such as wonder at soaring and palpable fear at an encounter with death. Little Bird is a plucky protagonist, whose joy at discovering her wings, both literally and proverbially, makes this a sweet and uplifting read. Soft spot art by Newbery Medalist Perkins (Criss Cross) provides visual beats. Ages 8–12. Author’s agent: Merrilee Heifetz, Writers House.

October 23, 2020

Gr 4-6-Little Bird is the smallest bird in her flock. She is tasked with the menial jobs, such as protecting fledglings from predators. When a fisher cat attacks a crow's nest and makes off with a fledgling and the trinket known as "Our Luck," Little Bird must set off on a quest to find them. Little Bird struggles with leaving as she realizes her family doesn't believe in her enough to trust that she will find Our Luck. As she continues her journey, she discovers that her gift of understanding other animals is not what she first thought. Despite this, she still manages to communicate with other animals such as squirrels, turkeys, a goat, and raccoons. Along the way, she learns about herself, the world around her, and those that are in it. This story incorporates themes of believing in yourself, friendship, communication, and more. Voigt doesn't shy away from the fact animals do die and eat other animals, and that not all humans are kind. The story seems to drag on at times, and falls victim to repetitiveness. However, the animal conversations are light and will inspire readers' curiosity. The illustrations throughout the book offer a bit of whimsy. VERDICT A secondary purchase for libraries that service upper elementary or lower middle grades.-Amy Caldera, Dripping Springs M.S., TX

Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2021
In her latest animal fantasy, Voigt returns to the Old Davis Farm, a territory she has explored in three previous books (most recently Toaff's Way, rev. 9/18). Little Bird is a curious crow who doesn't quite fit in. She takes on the task of finding a missing necklace to which the crows attribute their good luck. Her quest takes her outside her usual territory, where she encounters new situations, new creatures, dangers, and a dark night of the soul. There are threats and a near-deadly attack on Little Bird, but the focus here isn't "nature red in tooth and claw" but rather communication, the interactions between characters as they connect, suffer from misunderstandings, make jokes, and expand one another's horizons through storytelling. Part of the fun lies in decoding Little Bird's descriptions of humans. What would you make of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich or a schoolyard if you'd never seen one before? Voigt is a master at creating animal characters that are convincing and compelling in themselves while simultaneously nudging us to take a wry look at ourselves.

(Copyright 2021 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

January 1, 2021
In her latest animal fantasy, Voigt returns to the Old Davis Farm, a territory she has explored in three previous books (most recently Toaff's Way, rev. 9/18). Little Bird is a curious crow who doesn't quite fit in. She takes on the task of finding a missing necklace to which the crows attribute their good luck. Her quest takes her outside her usual territory, where she encounters new situations, new creatures, dangers, and a dark night of the soul. There are threats and a near-deadly attack on Little Bird, but the focus here isn't "nature red in tooth and claw" but rather communication, the interactions between characters as they connect, suffer from misunderstandings, make jokes, and expand one another's horizons through storytelling. Part of the fun lies in decoding Little Bird's descriptions of humans. What would you make of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich or a schoolyard if you'd never seen one before? Voigt is a master at creating animal characters that are convincing and compelling in themselves while simultaneously nudging us to take a wry look at ourselves. Sarah Ellis

(Copyright 2021 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)