Welcome to Perfect Picture Book Friday!

Up here on Blueberry Hill we were having spring for 3 days, but now it’s 30 and snowing again, which may possibly have affected my choice of book for this week 😊

It is a gorgeous book – lyrically written and so beautifully illustrated! I think you’re going to like it!

Title: The Winter Bird

Written By: Kate Banks

Illustrated By: Suzie Mason

Publisher: Candlewick, Oct. 11, 2022, fiction

ISBN#: 978-1536215687

Suitable For Ages: 3-7

Themes/Topics: nature, perseverance, kindness

text copyright Kate Banks 2022, illustration copyright Suzie Mason 2022, Candlewick

Opening:

“It was the time of year when the sun went to bed early.
The big brown bear lumbered off to its winter den.
The hedgehog dove into its nest of moss and leaves under the shed.
And the birds prepared to fly south.”

Brief Synopsis: [from the publisher] “Forest animals help an injured nightingale survive the winter in a comforting story of friendship and resilience, lyrically told and gorgeously illustrated.”

Links To Resources: Help birds in winter by hanging a bird feeder outside your house. Black oil sunflower seeds provide energy and are a favorite of many birds. You can also make a shelter for birds by making a little brush pile of branches, twigs and leaves where they can escape the wind and huddle together for warmth.

Why I Like This Book: Such a pretty book! Winter is coming, and for the nightingale, who is a spring bird, it is time to fly south. But a broken wing leaves it unable to go and worried about how it will survive. The owl, the rabbit, and the gray squirrel comfort, reassure, and help the nightingale, making sure it stays warm, fed, and protected throughout the winter, and the nightingale learns to take care of itself and also that winter has its own kind of beauty and wonder. Lyrical language and gorgeous illustrations make you want to climb right into the book. . . especially on the day when “the snowflakes were replaced by snowdrops. Green buds sprouted from the trees. The bear lumbered out of its den. And the hedgehog appeared once again.” (Because right now we’re all ready for spring, I think 😊) A beautiful quiet book perfect for settling-down time and for young readers who like animals and nature.

I hope you enjoy it as much as I do 😊

For the complete list of books with resources, please visit Perfect Picture Books.

PPBF folks, please add your titles and post-specific blog links (and any other info you feel like filling out 😊) to the form below so we can all come see what fabulous picture books you’ve chosen to share this week!

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone! 😊