I Am We
How Crows Come Together to Survive
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- $8.99
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- $8.99
Publisher Description
2026 ALSC Notable Children’s Book
A riveting informational picture book that explores the beguiling mysteries of crow behavior. Gorgeous illustrations take us into a crow’s environment and community, making this an incredible—and unforgettable—reading experience.
Caw‑Caaaaw! Crows are fascinating and resilient birds. What is the secret to their abundance and survival, especially throughout winter seasons crawling with crow-eating creatures? I Am We unpacks these mysteries, exploring how and why crows roost together by the thousands and their reliance on cooperation and community.
Sharing a home in our urbanized ecosystem, crows are the ideal subject for learning about how animals interact with the environment and with each other. With dazzling color illustrations and irresistibly engaging and educational text, this beautiful, bewitching book will delight readers throughout the spooky season and all year round.
CROWS ARE EVERYWHERE: Whether hopping along the road or chattering in trees, the common crow has caught the attention of countless kids (and adults). This book turns that attention into an arresting, informative story that reveals how much we have to learn from our neighborhood bird!
EDUCATIONAL ENTERTAINMENT: I Am We directly supports learning about ecosystems, interactions, energy, and dynamics while relaying an engaging, suspenseful story that teachers, children, and caregivers won’t want to put down.
TEACHES TEAMWORK: Crows have a lot in common with humans: We share an important reliance on community. Focusing on how crows cooperate, communicate, and even cuddle, this picture book highlights the positives of working together to solve a problem, imparting the value of a real-world life skill.
Perfect for:
Kids who love birds, nature, and exciting facts
Teachers and librarians seeking engaging STEM-related resources
Birdwatchers and bird lovers
Gift-givers looking for a unique Halloween or fall book for kids
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Assonant, rhythmic prose from Barnard Booth (One Day This Tree Will Fall) and gothic paintings by Finkelday (On a Mushroom Day) work hand-in-hand to create a hypnotic group portrait of crows. First-person singular opening lines ("I am not I at all") drive home the book's emphasis on collectivity via a rapid shift to first-person plural ("one set of eyes/ isn't nearly enough.// We feel it/ we all feel it,/ when the sun starts to set"). There's an air of enchantment as text suggests, "We must sound like witches to you./ The ones from your tales./ The ones that cackle and cast evil spells," before revealing the actual mechanics at play: "A spell that binds one to many/ and turns I to we." Dramatic, smudgy renderings of the charcoal-colored subjects contrasted against twilit skies echo high-stakes descriptions of nighttime dangers and communal roosting ("We might stay alive/ if we cuddle,/ if we huddle"). Remarkably effective in transforming a murder of crows from a fearsome- to fearful-seeming grouping, the creators also underscore the uniquely effective manner in which the birds work collectively to endure. Back matter includes further information and an author's note. Ages 5–8.
