Lonely Bird's Dream

August 15, 2024
A little bird yearns for more. Last seen inLonely Bird (2023), the titular character--an avian equivalent of a stick figure--resembles nothing so much as a cut-paper drawing living in a world of thick, realistic oil paints. Little wonder that she can't figure out where she fits in. Perhaps the sky? But the real birds that can fly have wings that seem entirely different from her own. With pencil-sketched dreams of flight dancing in her head, she sets off to research the many ways of taking to the skies. Drawings and experiments lead to a series of tests. Lonely Bird builds a glider, tweaking her designs after a precipitous crash before finally attaining a bit of success. Alas, a downdraft causes her to crash in a spiderweb in a tree, her home below appearing comparatively distant. With her plane now crushed, how will she return? This book contains the very rare instance of a realistic-looking spider proving to be a capable friend and ally at a time of need. Lonely Bird's final conclusion that "I know exactly where I belong" is heartening, though by no means clear. Her declaration may lead to some thoughtful discussions with young readers about why she feels the way she does. The children who reside in her home present white. This distinctly gentle, earnest protagonist's quiet triumphs still resonate.(Picture book. 5-7)

COPYRIGHT(2024) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

October 1, 2024
Preschool-Grade 3 In this follow-up to Whiting's Lonely Bird (2023), the titular bird, a cartoon drawing of a bird on white paper existing in a realistically rendered environment, questions her identity, her place in the world, and why she differs from other birds. As she pores over bird illustrations and dense encyclopedia entries amid delicate images of feathers, twigs, and maple seeds, Lonely Bird knows she is a bird at heart, but she quickly realizes what other birds do that she does not: fly. Inspired by a dream and determined to soar above the trees, Lonely Bird's flight becomes a reality after her perseverance leads her to the construction of a glider and ultimately a much deeper truth. This meticulously crafted picture book explores self-discovery, the pursuit of goals, and above all, the importance of staying true to oneself. Each page is a beautifully painted world worth exploring--from Lonely Bird's scrap glider blueprints to the limitless skies. Young readers, especially those struggling to fit in, will feel inspired by Lonely Bird's nurtured dream and resulting inner discovery. \

COPYRIGHT(2024) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

November 1, 2024
The titular protagonist (Lonely Bird, rev. 11/23) has begun to notice something unusual about herself. To readers, she already stands out as a small, stark, and white line drawing against a three-dimensional painted world. From where she stands on the windowsill, she sees birds using their wings in a way that she can't, and she begins to wonder about "who she is and where she fits." She surrounds herself with books, feathers, drawings, and images of flight to help develop her calculations and determine the materials she needs. At last, she builds a "contraption that is very exciting to look at": a flying machine. As with many experiments, an initial faulty flight eventually leads to a successful soar out the window and into...a spiderweb. Once it's clear her contraption has crumpled, she worries she won't be able to find a way back home. Thankfully, Lonely Bird makes an eight-legged friend who inspires an invention that just might work. This story champions ingenuity and aspirations and is a lovely extension of the journey in the first book. Subdued and thoughtful, it instills in readers that a dream can both send us soaring and bring us home. Grace McKinney Beermann

(Copyright 2024 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

July 1, 2024
The titular protagonist (Lonely Bird, rev. 11/23) has begun to notice something unusual about herself. To readers, she already stands out as a small, stark, and white line drawing against a three-dimensional painted world. From where she stands on the windowsill, she sees birds using their wings in a way that she can't, and she begins to wonder about "who she is and where she fits." She surrounds herself with books, feathers, drawings, and images of flight to help develop her calculations and determine the materials she needs. At last, she builds a "contraption that is very exciting to look at": a flying machine. As with many experiments, an initial faulty flight eventually leads to a successful soar out the window and into...a spiderweb. Once it's clear her contraption has crumpled, she worries she won't be able to find a way back home. Thankfully, Lonely Bird makes an eight-legged friend who inspires an invention that just might work. This story champions ingenuity and aspirations and is a lovely extension of the journey in the first book. Subdued and thoughtful, it instills in readers that a dream can both send us soaring and bring us home.

(Copyright 2024 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)