I Really Want to Be First! (Really Bird Stories #1)

Ziefert (It's Time to Go to Sleep) and Foster (Take a Hike, Miles and Spike!) launch a dialogue-driven early reader comics series starring Really Bird--a feathered friend who feels things most emphatically. "When I'm happy, or sad, or thirsty, or scared, I'm REALLY happy, or REALLY scared... or REALLY thirsty!" Always feeling third in line behind friends Cat and Pup, Really Bird announces that this time, "I'm the LEADER!" When the pals acquiesce, Really insists they follow to the top of a tree--a climb for which Dog is just not built. Amid the leaves, the mammals become stuck and frantic... and Really Bird shrugs off the responsibilities of having placed friends in a sticky situation, and of helping them down. Really's yearning to be first should resonate no matter where opinion lands on the bird's leadership qualities, and Foster's stripped-down but emotionally operatic cartooning tempers this familiarly touchy interpersonal matter with just the right goofiness, starting with Really himself: a bright blue circle with stick legs, finger-like wings, and an oversize orange beak. A "Think About/Talk About" page invites reader discussion. Publishing simultaneously: I Really Want a Bigger Piece. Ages 5-7. (Apr.)

PreS-Gr 2--A mischievous little bird, Really Bird gets his name because he does and wants everything really big, or really happy, or really silly. In this whimsical, easy-to-read book, Really Bird and his friends, a yellow cat and a black puppy, live in a city park. Whenever they venture out to do various activities in the park, they usually go in the same order every time: Cat, Pup, and then Really Bird. One day while they are going on yet another nonsensical adventure, Really Bird tells his friends that he really really wants to go first this time. Cat and Pup decide to let him lead. Really Bird leads his friends into climbing a tree, where both of them get stuck and have a hard time holding on. When both animals ask for his leadership to get them down, Really Bird comes up with the solution. Questions at the end of the book to discuss with little ones are a delightful addition. VERDICT A goofy, silly story with lively imagery by Foster, this book touches on issues of social consciousness, such as trusting, sharing, and having productive solutions to problems when issues occur. Great for any children's collection.--Annmarie Braithwaite

"Fans of Elephant and Piggie will REALLY love Ziefert's and Foster's new early comic series. Appearing in speech bubbles, Ziefert's lively text is all dialogue making the story easy for kids to access. Foster's bright and energetic illustrations fill the pages and will captivate kids. As a reading specialist, I love that the stores teach and reinforce positive virtues such as friendship, teamwork, sharing, and kindness." -Beagles and Books

"Perfect for classroom or daycare reading and learning." -Sincerely Stacie

"This series is so well done! The author uses Really Bird and his friends to show real conflicts children have on a day to day basis and how this group of pals works through these situations. Both books present so many wonderful character traits like: compassion, kindness, teamwork etc. As a school counselor, I love the emphasis on being fair and working together towards a solution that will benefit all. I also really value the discussion topics and questions in the back-matter that that can help parents navigate conversations with their children!" - BooksGrowMinds