Clara and the Birds: A Picture Book

by Emma Simpson

Overview

A shy young girl who usually strays from the flock discovers her own inner strength in author-illustrator Emma Simpson’s Clara and the Birds.

For as long as she can remember, Clara has always been fascinated with birds—where they go, how they take flight, and the way they immediately fly away from her when she comes into contact with them. Like the birds she so admires, Clara is considered shy by those around her. She too feels the urge to flee the company of others, preferring the comforting bubble of solitude instead.

Convinced that her desire to be alone is a weakness, she fails to find her voice or recognize her own inner strength. That is, until she has a chance encounter with a bird who doesn’t immediately fly away . . .

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781990252341
Publisher:	Milky Way Picture Books
Publication date:	06/04/2024
Pages:	52
Sales rank:	955,062
Product dimensions:	9.25(w) x 10.25(h) x (d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Emma Simpson is a British author and illustrator. Considered a talented up-and-comer in the world of picture books, Simpson was named the 2021 UK winner of the international picture book illustration competition Picture This! She lives and basks in the splendor of Munich and the Bavarian Alps, drawing inspiration from the animals, nature, and people that surround her in this gorgeous setting.

Editorial Reviews

2024-01-20
Clara feels trapped by her designation as a shy child, but an encounter with an imperiled bird forces her to break out of her shell.

Narrated in a poetically formal, third-person style with the vibe of an old-school nature documentary, this tale follows Clara, a blond, pale-skinned bird aficionado. Clara lives life on the sidelines, watching birds intuitively “soar and glide in endless spaces,” while she herself is stuck, longing to join in on her classmates’ games but unable to “find her voice.” A striking image of Clara enclosed inside an eggshell is a perfect metaphor for this emotional confinement. When she decides to search a forest for birds, the story has a distinct lull in pacing. Though scenes of Clara meandering through the woods ruminating on “old, gnarly roots” and vibrant insects are aesthetically lovely and demonstrate Simpson’s mastery of delicate linework and botanical elements, this section feels sluggish. The story picks up once Clara locates and saves a bird entangled in some string and leaves the forest, ready to soar. Her shyness no longer defines her; she knows she can “be brave, sociable, and curious.” Wispy, watercolorlike backgrounds in a limited palette of sky blue, gold, and charcoal highlight the birds and Clara’s expressive face.

A contemplative text for quiet readers, but those who persist may hear the birds sing. (Picture book. 5-10)

Kirkus Reviews