Watch the Birdie!

June 1, 2016

PreS-Gr 1-Sam, Mousey, and Mousey's nemesis-the cat-are back. This time, the cat has set his sights on a baby bird who has fallen from his nest while trying to fly. As the cat advances, Mousey enlists the help of various animals to get the tiny bird back to his nest. Frog can jump high, but the birdie slips off his wet back. Rabbit can hop far, but his fuzzy fur causes the birdie to giggle and fall off. Snail goes so slow, the fledgling falls asleep and tumbles off. He is violently awakened when the cat pounces, but Mousey bravely leaps to the rescue. In all the excitement, the bird's wings flap and flap until he is flying. Now he's the one doing the saving. Safely in the nest, a grateful Mousey hugs the bird, who then flies off with his family. Suddenly stranded, Mousey is very happy to see Sam, who immediately helps him down. The use of various fonts and text placement works well with Cote's story and her dynamic, bright, bold, and humorous illustrations. The stylized cartoon characters have exaggerated features and large, expressive eyes. VERDICT This is a sweet additional purchase that touts courage in the face of adversity and the importance of friendship. Budding readers will appreciate the simple wording of the patterned text.-Catherine Callegari, formerly at Gay-Kimball Library, Troy, NH

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