Little Bird Visits the Big City

by Domenico Granata

Overview

A curious little country bird longs to see the bright lights, big city. But is he ready for the hustle and bustle?

Little bird is curious to fly beyond the boundaries of his little forest. Though his mother warns him to stay with his friends, Little Bird takes off on his own, looking for adventure. When he arrives in the city he doesn't know what to make of all the noises and the commotion. Before long he's feeling frightened and homesick. Luckily for him, his friends had been checking up on him the whole time. This adorable book shows the universal pull children feel to go off on their own, even as they long to stay tethered to home.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9789888342037
Publisher:	Astra Publishing House
Publication date:	10/06/2020
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	8.81(w) x 11.63(h) x 0.38(d)
Lexile:	AD720L (what's this?)
Age Range:	3 - 5 Years

About the Author

Domenico Granata was born in Naples, Italy in 1977. His early interest in art led him first to drawing, and then to children's book illustrations. Mr. Granata lives in Reggio Emilia, a small city in central Italy, where he works as an architect and a high school teacher. This is his first book for minedition.

Editorial Reviews

"An original story for those who are ready to strike out on their own as well as for those who are still thinking about it, Little Bird Visits the Big City would make a thoughtful storytime read at home and in the classroom, and a terrific addition to public library collections." — Celebrate Picture Books

"Kids (the ones who will identify with animal characters and look for themselves in picture book stories) are born in their own "packages", hard-wired with widely-varied levels of sensory responses, anxiety, adventuresome drives, and other personality patterns. This Little Bird has a drive to discover, revealed on the opening page and continuing on to the end, even after some rethinking of his plans is called for.” — Unpacking the Power of Picture Books

“The bold colors, geometric shapes, and stylized characters and scenery are appealing, as is the theme of a young bird who is curious about the big city he can see from his home in the woods. . . . may appeal to readers who loved The Runaway Bunny or Love You Forever.” — Youth Services Book Review

From the Publisher

2020-06-30
Little Bird lives in a little forest but longs to see the nearby city.

When he decides to set out on an adventure, his mother suggests his friends accompany him, but he wants to travel alone. “How good it feels,” he thinks, soaring over the forest and feeling not so little anymore. But once he’s in the city, he finds it overwhelming with its “strangely-shaped metal contraptions,” other alarming things he can’t quite name, and birds that won’t share. He misses his friends, especially when a curious, kind child with pale skin and straight, black hair watches him from a distance. He is in tears only to turn around to see that two of his bird friends have followed him on his journey. Disguised in leaves, they have been “keeping an eye on him the whole time.” Warm rust colors—yellows, oranges, and reds—mark the strong emotions of Little Bird, but subtle touches of turquoise and green bring about a soothing balance. The simple shapes will appeal to young readers; Little Bird himself, a black bird, is oval-shaped and always seen in profile with an inquisitive, wide-eyed look and a bright orange beak. Child readers who see in themselves the same desire to be independent, if only occasionally, may find solace in the story’s conclusion—that loved ones care enough to be there and console him when he feels lonely. (This book was reviewed digitally with 8.7-by-23.2-inch double-page spreads viewed at 87.7% of actual size.)

A simple home-and-back-again tale of friends as a safety net. (Picture book. 4-8)

Kirkus Reviews