Perfect Picture Book Friday: Birdsong
Title: Birdsong
Author: Julie Flett
Illustrator: Julie Flett
Publisher: Greystone Books
Audience: Ages 4-8
Themes: seasons, nature, intergenerational friendship
Opening lines: It’s a mucky spring morning as we pack up the last of our belongings and leave our little home in the city by the sea.
I’m going to miss my friends and cousins and aunties and uncles. I’m going to miss my bedroom window and the tree outside.
Synopsis: (from the jacket flap) When a young girl moves to her new home far away from the sea, she feels lonely and out of place. But soon she meets an elderly woman next door, who shares her love of nature and art. As the seasons change, can the girl navigate the failing health of her new friend?
Why I Like This Book: I was grabbed by the lyrical language from the first page. The simple illustrations are perfect, enhancing the text but never overpowering. The words and art combine to help us feel Katherena’s loneliness and her delight in finding a new friend. I especially like how the passage of the seasons marks Katherena’s growth in dealing with her emotions and the gradual decline of her friend, Agnes.
Resources: There is a downloadable Companion Guide for Teachers and Parents on Julie Flett’s website (www.julieflett.com) that has discussion questions and many art related activities.
For a list of wonderful picture books, please visit Susanna Leonard Hill’s Perfect Picture Books.
Imagine the Possibilities 
I love all the things this book brings – artwork, birds, an intergenerational friendship, and a roller coaster of emotions. Moving to a new home is a big deal for kids – for anyone, I suppose. Thanks for this book recommendation. I am going to purchase it and visit the author’s website now.
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I love intergenerational stories. Every kid needs a “wise friend” in their lives. And, those friends and family members’ health begins to decline, it is helpful to have a book like this on hand.
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I love this book. Moving is hard on everyone, and here, as Pat said, it’s good to see intergenerational stories, so that kids see models for how others who aren’t their age fit into their lives in such important ways.
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Love this book (and anything else from Julie Flett!).
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