Feather

Starred review from July 31, 2017
“Am I yours?” a feather asks each bird she meets. She’s searching for the one who dropped her: “If I belonged to a bird, I could fly even higher!” Mello—like Cao, a recent winner of the Hans Christian Andersen Award—traces the balletic curves of bird forms: a heron’s neck (“You aren’t mine,” the heron says), the outstretched wings of geese (they ignore Feather), the tail of a peacock (“Perhaps you haven’t looked carefully enough”). A skylark grants Feather’s wish and carries her aloft, then meets a dreadful fate in the talons of a hawk: “Feather heard the sound of a scream in the air.” Feather’s heritage, she discovers, is less grand than she imagined—but it’s her own. Mello’s artwork offers countless delights: the plumage of the birds, contrasting backdrops that make the colors blaze, and liberal use of empty space. Cao’s story has the timeless quality of a traditional folk tale (and the brutality of one, with its offstage murder), and it speaks to the way that desires have consequences that can’t be calculated. It’s not comfort Feather’s search offers, but truth and beauty. Ages 3–7.

Starred review from July 1, 2017
In this first collaboration between Chinese author Cao and Brazilian artist Mello--both of whom are recent Hans Christian Andersen award winners--a feather embarks on a quest to discover to whom she belongs. From a kingfisher and cuckoo to wild geese and a peacock, the birds universally ignore Feather at first but ultimately convey the same message: she does not belong to them. The protagonist believes that finding her bird of origin will enable her to fly even higher, so she continues the journey. The creatures have distinctive voices, and the compositions fuse a sense of Asian design with a South American palette. Each bird takes center stage on the double-page spreads, a marvel of extravagant pattern against solid, vibrant backgrounds. Pottery and natural features provide occasional context. The feather is an abstract silhouette on the right border of each scene. At the climax, a kindly skylark lifts Feather to new heights but falls prey, alas, to a circling hawk. (The demise occurs offstage.) Devastated, Feather floats to Earth, where she eventually spots a parade of chicks marching into the sunshine; mother hen is missing a feather. The author wisely allows readers to ponder a potential conversation and next steps. This Zen exploration of belonging and groundedness is further enhanced by a sensitive translation and pithy, philosophical introductions by both creators--masterful storytelling. (Picture book. 5-8)

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November 1, 2017

PreS-Gr 2-Wenxuan has created a picture book that tells the hopeful tale of a single feather as it embarks on a journey to find out where it came from and where it belongs. As a feather, it travels on the wind without a particular direction, but it hopes to discover a personal connection to the world. Along the way, the feather meets many different birds and asks, "Do I belong to you?" Again and again it is rebuffed by kingfisher, magpie, heron, and others, but never loses hope. Finally, the realization that there may never be an answer is calmly accepted as it meets its fate in the talons of a hawk. Wenxuan is a professor of literature at Peking University and winner of the 2016 Hans Christian Andersen Award. In this folktale, he recognizes that searching does not always end in an expected result, but is still a valuable quest for truth. The story is enhanced by the incomparable illustrations of Roger Mello, who has created strikingly beautiful spreads of the feather's encounter with each of the birds it meets. He highlights their gorgeous plumage including the tail of the peacock and the wings of the geese and then places them strategically on dynamic, full-color backgrounds that match this adventure of discovery. Garcia-Roberts has deftly translated this tale from the original Chinese with language that truly captures the poignancy of never giving up on your search for truth. "If I belonged to a bird, I could fly even higher!" VERDICT An amazing picture book that could be paired with classic titles, used to introduce a bird unit on adaptations, or just shared as the wonderful read-aloud it is. Highly recommended.-Carole Phillips, Greenacres Elementary School, Scarsdale, NY

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