Birds on Wishbone Street

by Suzanne del Rizzo (Author)

Birds on Wishbone Street
Reading Level: 2nd − 3rd Grade

A simple act of neighborly kindness and a bird that needs their aid helps former refugee Sami settle into his new community with new-found friend Moe.

Moe's neighbors on Wishbone Street come from all over the world, and she's excited to meet the new boy who just arrived from Syria. Sami isn't quite ready to talk about his past, but he loves birds just as much as Moe does. And who wouldn't have fun in a parkette full of packing snow? When the children discover a female cardinal stunned by the cold, Sami uses his experience taking care of pigeons in Syria to help rescue the bird--an incident that helps Sami to feel more at home.

In Birds on Wishbone Street, author/illustrator Suzanne Del Rizzo demonstrates the power of an act of kindness, telling a story about finding home and making friends in new places. Illustrated with her signature polymer clay art, the story revisits characters from Del Rizzo's New York Times Notable My Beautiful Birds and reminds us that we're all more similar than we are different.

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Hardcover
$18.95

Kirkus Reviews

Starred Review

Del Rizzo illustrates with elaborate clay modeling combined with other media; the three-dimensional look ignites interest and gives the pictures a special warmth. The story centers care for others and nature as well as focusing on people's shared humanity. 

Horn Book Magazine

Rizzo's illustrations are made with polymer clay and paint, achieving a realistic variety of skin tones and a vibrant, three-dimensional quality....The story is loving and gently paced, with the two children coming together to rescue a cardinal we have already seen in several pictures, each sacrificing a treasure to do it.

Publishers Weekly

Maureen, also known as Moe, a light-skinned Irish Canadian child, narrates this warm slice-of-life picture book, which portrays the developing friendship between Moe and Sami, a light brown-skinned new neighbor from Syria, as they bond over a shared interest in birds. Moe meets daily with young neighbors Mei, cued East Asian, and her brother Omari, who reads as Black, as well as adult residents. Del Rizzo's colloquial prose emphasizes collective pursuits, as Moe compares bird-related treasures ("multi-colored feathers... and bird leg-bands too") and includes Sami in wintry activities. Textural scenes created with polymer clay and acrylic makes details pop almost tangibly, presenting a street populated with an inclusive cast of varying ability, age, background, and skin tone. A gentle, bird-centered tale of community care. Back matter features a recipe for bird suet treats and a how-to for winter roosting pockets, plus an author's note. Ages 5-8. (Nov.)

Copyright 2021 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes

Praise for Birds on Wishbone Street

2022 49th Shelf Top Grade Winter List Selection

"[A] heartwarming story that brings forth the importance of simple things in life, such as treating one another with kindness and embracing the treasures that nature has to offer....The story, itself, is beautiful, but the immaculately detailed illustrations are worthy of their own praise."—CM Magazine

"Del Rizzo's unique art adds dimension to the book's warm, welcoming neighborhood scenes....[A] bighearted book that will leave readers eager to discover the many treasures that new friendships hold."—BookPage

"[A] beautifully illustrated book that shows how different people can live together and get along....The illustrations in this book are very interesting. They have a sense of realism in them that other illustrations in other books do not have, from their bright colors, to the way the angles don't necessarily always look directly at people..."—YA Books Central

"This uplifting story will resonate with young readers, especially those who are new to Canada....Not only are the fall and winter scenes within this book filled with a myriad of delightful details, but one can almost feel the rich textures of what is being portrayed on its pages."—Canadian Children's Book News

"[C]hock-a-block with vivid and complex illustrations that delight the eye through her use of textured polymer clay (resembles plasticine), acrylic glaze and other mixed media. And when readers reach the end of the story of Moe and Sami there is more to come with the added treat of illustrated instructions on how to make bird suet treats and winter roosting pockets; a sure way to encourage young readers to also get their hands dirty!"—Oakville News

"A heart-warming story about kindness, inclusion and belonging, by the creator of My Beautiful Birds."—Sherylbooks

"In Birds on Wishbone Street, Suzanne Del Rizzo honours her own family and those of all immigrants to Canada, and upholds the idea that communities are based on an appreciation for our differences and acknowledgement of our commonalities."—CanLit for Little Canadians

"[A] beautiful story of people coming from different cultures....Illustrated in clay and mixed media, the glorious art is a joy to explore. The book works on many different levels and even offers instructions on how to make your own winter bird treats."—The International Educator

"We love the community feel of this story. It wraps you in a warm blanket of kindness....[A] story that obviously come from the heart and extends a hand to readers."—Storytime with Stephanie

"I love the plasticine illustrations in this book, particularly the snowflakes."—Book Time

"The illustrations, made using polymer clay and acrylics, will have readers in awe of the details, the ever-changing perspectives, and the wonders of the season...This is a truly wonderful story about friendship, community and being kind."—Sal's Fiction Addiction

Birds on Wishbone Street is a delightful, heartwarming story about a little girl, Maureen, who welcomes a boy, Sami, to her neighbourhood....The story is based on a real street in Toronto and this is a beautifully illustrated picture book about acts of kindness and making friends.—Toronto.com

Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9781772782196
Lexile Measure
580
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Pajama Press
Publication date
November 20, 2021
Series
-
BISAC categories
JUV039060 - Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes | Friendship
JUV002040 - Juvenile Fiction | Animals | Birds
JUV039250 - Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes | Emigration & Immigration
JUV074000 - Juvenile Fiction | Diversity & Multicultural
Library of Congress categories
Friendship
Immigrants
Picture books
Neighbors
Syria
Immigrant children
Bird watchers
49th Shelf Top Grade
Winter Selection 2022
IODE Jean Throop
Book Award Winner 2022
Bank Street
Best Children's Book of the Year 2022
CCBC
Spring Best Books for Kids & Teens 2022

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