Elwood Bigfoot: Wanted: Birdie Friends!

by Jill Esbaum, Nate Wragg (Illustrator)

Overview

Elwood Bigfoot is big, clumsy, LOUD . . . and lonely. It's hard for him to make friends—especially with the tiny, delicate birdies he loves so much. Each flash of their feathers, each chirp and cheerful song helps him feel less alone. But whenever a birdie swoops by, and Elwood hollers at it to STAY, the scared creature flies away. He tries everything: sitting on a branch, having a housewarming party, even building an amusement park with snacks and pools. But nothing helps—until Elwood finally learns how to make his bird dreams come true.

One of the Globe & Mail's 100 Best Books of the Year!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781454908791
Publisher:	Sterling Children's Books
Publication date:	09/01/2015
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	232,984
Product dimensions:	8.80(w) x 11.00(h) x 0.10(d)
Lexile:	AD570L (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 7 Years

About the Author

Jill Esbaum is the award-winning author of many picture books, including I Am Cow, Hear Me Moo! and I Hatched! (both Penguin). She also enjoys writing a variety of nonfiction books for National Geographic Kids, including the popular Angry Birds Playground series. Jill lives on a farm in Iowa. Learn more at jillesbaum.com and picturebookbuilders.com.
 
Nate Wragg is an art director, illustrator, and Bigfoot enthusiast. Some of the books he's illustrated include Too Many Cooks, by Margaret McNamara (Disney), Goldi Rocks, by Corey Rosen Schwartz and Beth Coulton (Penguin), and At The Old Haunted House, by Helen Ketteman (Amazon). He lives in Southern California with his family.

Editorial Reviews

2015-06-16
Elwood Bigfoot is lonely…won't any birdie be his friend? In the morning he sips his tea alone. In the afternoon he picks berries alone. And at night he's lonely in his cave. Elwood Bigfoot wants nothing more than to have birdies for friends, but they always fly away from him. Maybe if he only had a home in a tree like theirs, they'd love him. He builds a treehouse, but they don't come. He dresses like them (with beak and feathers), sings like them, eats like them…but they always fly away from him. Even a housewarming party doesn't draw them. He builds a birdie theme park…but even that doesn't work—until he comes to the realization that it is his loud, boisterous enthusiasm that scares the birds away. He quiets down…and is suddenly the birdie magnet he has always wanted to be. Esbaum's sweet tale of a friendship-seeking bigfoot is a good title to hand to those not quite ready for chapter books. The relatively lengthy yet still simple text will keep them interested without unduly challenging their new reading skills. Wragg's adorable, snaggle-toothed bigfoot is the real star here; his black-dot eyes and wide grin will easily charm the kids (and birds). Bright, enticing cartoon illustrations and a character many can identify with will hook storytimers and new readers. (Picture book. 4-8)

Kirkus Reviews