The Lost Little Bird

A tweet little tale of finding one’s place in the world.

The confused bird who stars in this latest creation by McPhail (I Hug) is a stumpy, personable fellow with a glittering eye who, having hit his head, can't remember what kind of bird he is. In a wildland setting that's home to many different species, he approaches all the birds he can find, parroting their actions to see whether he's of their type. He's not a nightingale, he discovers--his singing is more annoying than tuneful. He's taken aback when a worm pops up out of the ground ("Yikes!"), so he's not a robin. Gently tinted ink and watercolor spreads give readers reason to linger, and humorous remarks appear in handsome umber ink via speech balloons: "Maybe tomorrow," says a kindly hen, as the bird protagonist looks into the empty nest he's failed to fill with eggs. The bird accepts each failure cheerfully and doesn't become discouraged until the very end, when warm reassurance appears. A good place to start conversations about observing differences in nature. Ages 4-8. (Mar.)

PreS-Gr 1--When a little bird collides with a tree trunk and falls to the ground, he is lost and disoriented. He cannot even remember what kind of bird he is! The confused bird sets out on a journey to rediscover his identity. Along the way, he encounters several species of birds and tries on their habits for possible matches. Could he be a robin? No, he doesn't like the idea of eating worms. Perhaps he is an egret? No, his legs are too short to walk through the pond. Maybe he is a duck? No again, he can't swim! What about a chicken? Nope, he can't lay an egg despite encouragement from two chickens. McPhail's simple text and charming pen, ink, and watercolor illustrations work together to create a resonant story of lost and found. Details in the illustrations and speech bubbles help convey the action. This understated story introduces young readers to a variety of birds and will appeal to prereaders in a bird-themed story time or as a classroom read-aloud. VERDICT A charming tale of identity, perfect for story hours welcoming spring.--Emily Brush, Novi P.L., MI