Children's Fiction Emotions & Feelings
Bird Child
- Publisher
- Tundra
- Initial publish date
- Aug 2009
- Category
- Emotions & Feelings, Bullying, Friendship
-
Hardback
- ISBN
- 9780887768941
- Publish Date
- Aug 2009
- List Price
- $21.99
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Where to buy it
Recommended Age, Grade, and Reading Levels
- Age: 5 to 8
- Grade: k to 3
Description
Bullying and the ability to rise above it are at the heart of this strikingly beautiful picture book. All school-aged children have either bullied, been bullied, or witnessed bullying, and all too often, they feel powerless to stop what has been set in motion.
Such is not the case with Eliza. Her mother has given her “wings to fly” and the ability to see all the possibilities that lie before her. So, when bullies pick on the new student, Lainey, gradually robbing her of her smile and ability to paint beautiful pictures, Eliza wants to help, and she does, by finding a way to show Lainey all that she can be. Then in the schoolyard, Eliza stands up to the bullies. One by one, the other children add their voices, and soon the bullies have skulked away.
Lyrical and eloquent yet realistic and down to earth, Nan Forler’s text is complemented beautifully with François Thisdale’s haunting images. This is a book for every child, every classroom, and every library.
About the authors
L’œuvre de François Thisdale mélange les techniques traditionnelles et l’imagerie numérique. Il est l’illustrateur de The Stamp Collector, qui a été sur la liste d’honneur IBBY, That Squeak, un livre qui s’est mérité une mention d’honneur pour le prix IBBY Canada Elizabeth Mrazik-Cleaver et Missing Nimama, lauréat du prix TD de littérature pour l’enfance et la jeunesse. François vit à Montréal, au Québec.
François Thisdale's work blends traditional drawing and painting with digital imagery. He is the illustrator of The Stamp Collector, which is on IBBY Honor List, That Squeak, an honour book for the IBBY Canada Elizabeth Mrazik- Cleaver Picture Book Award, and Missing Nimama, winner of the TD Canadian Children’s Book Award. François lives in Montreal, Quebec.
Editorial Reviews
“Magical and ethereal do not typically describe tales of bullying, but this lyrical combination of realism and fantasy defies expectation. … This is a beautiful book with a somber tone, buoyed by Eliza and Lainey’s triumph in imagining possibilities. They do not fight the bully, but defy him by becoming friends.”
— School Library Journal
“… As a thematic book dealing with the issue of bullying, this story excels. It is not preachy or didactic.... Word choices approach the finely tuned standard of poetry…. Highly recommended.”
— Excellent, Resource Links
“Forler’s first published work is lyrically written and conveys an astute awareness of children and bullying. Thisdale’s eerie images … are perfectly suited to the text’s magic realism and are sure to draw young readers into the story. A thoughtful choice for one-on-one sharing…”
— Booklist
“François Thisdale’s illustrations are feast of pure visual delight…. Bird Child stirs the soul, is a joy to experience, and presents a bold hopeful ray of light to children experiencing bullying.”
— Highly Recommended, CM Magazine
