Birdsong
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- $9.99
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- $9.99
Publisher Description
BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR: PUBLISHERS WEEKLY, SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL, KIRKUS, HORN BOOK, QUILL & QUIRE, GLOBE AND MAIL
WINNER OF THE TD CANADIAN CHILDREN’S LITERATURE AWARD
FINALIST FOR THE GOVERNOR GENERAL’S AWARD
AN AMERICAN INDIAN YOUTH LITERATURE HONOR TITLE
A BOSTON GLOBE—HORN BOOK HONOR BOOK
When Katherena and her mother move to a small town, Katherena feels lonely and out of place. But when she meets an elderly woman artist who lives next door, named Agnes—her world starts to change.
Katherena and Agnes share the same passions for arts and crafts, birds, and nature. But as the seasons change, can Katherna navigate the failing health of her new friend?
Award-winning author and artist Julie Flett’s textured images of birds, flowers, art, and landscapes bring vibrancy and warmth to this powerful story, which highlights the fulfillment of intergenerational relationships, shared passions, and spending time outdoors with the ones we love.
Includes a glossary and pronunciation guide to Cree words that appear in the text.
“Cree-Métis author/illustrator Julie Flett's smooth and lyrical words and gorgeous... images truly capture the warmth and solidarity of the female protagonists in this tender intergenerational friendship story.”—The Horn Book
“Cycling from spring to spring, [Julie Flett’s] subtle, sensitive story delicately traces filaments of growth and loss through intergenerational friendship, art making, and changing moons and seasons.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review)
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
When Katherena and her mother move away from family in "the city by the sea," the new house has a desk, "but I don't feel like drawing./ My hands are cold." Meeting Agnes, the older woman who is their nearest neighbor, changes everything: "I can't wait to go home and start drawing." Agnes becomes frail as the seasons pass, but the duo's strengthening friendship ("Agnes tells me about waxing and waning moons./ I tell her about Cree seasons") allows Katherena to grow, and the book closes with a gift from Katherena to Agnes. Cycling from spring to spring, Flett's subtle, sensitive story delicately traces filaments of growth and loss through intergenerational friendship, art making, and changing moons and seasons. Cree-M tis words (defined in a small glossary) add an intimate layer of identity to the child's lustrous narration, which shines against the spare beauty of rich illustrations by Flett (who is Cree-M tis). Ages 3 8.
