A New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Book of 2012! ★ Little Bird is a quietly explosive meditation on generosity and freedom.
A man drives his truck up to a cliff's edge. Unable to go any further, he opens the back door of his truck and a flock of birds flies out, but, as the man soon discovers, a small timid bird remains. Surprised and delighted, the man acts kindly towards the bird and an intimacy develops. After lunch, the man tries to show the bird that he should fly off and join his friends. The man's comic attempt at flight deepens the encounter between these two very different creatures. Soon the bird flies off and the man drives away, but in a surprise twist the bird and his friends return, and in a starkly lyrical moment we see them all experience something entirely new.
Praise
A New York Times Best Illustrated Children’s Book of 2012
A Bank Street College of Education Best Children's Book of 2013
Winner of the 2011 Prix des Sorcières (France’s equivalent of the Caldecott Award)
STARRED REVIEW! ? "Shimmering, color-saturated landscapes and a message about cherishing small things make this English-language debut by a Swiss team an unexpected treasure."
—Publishers Weekly
STARRED REVIEW! ? "Uplifting in more ways than one, this prizewinning import suggests that little things can change lives—and perhaps even the world."
—Kirkus Reviews
"Children's picture books—the best of them, at least—have this magical quality of speaking to young hearts with expressive simplicity, but also engaging grown-up minds with subtle reflections on the human condition. Such is the case of Little Bird by Swiss author-illustrator duo Germano Zullo and Albertine, published by the wonderful Enchanted Lion Books. Illustrated in Albertine's signature style of soft, colorful minimalism, this little gem is like a beautiful silent film, only in vibrant hues and on paper."
—Brain Pickings, Maria Popova
"An impressive picture book that is modern, fresh and will have readers looking for tiny treasures in their lives too."
—Waking Brain Cells, Tasha Saecker
"I'm a big fan of Brooklyn-based publishing company Enchanted Lion… They always have excellent taste in artists and unique storytellers. Their latest release, a prizewinning Swiss import [Little Bird], is no exception."
—Apartment Therapy, Ben Partridge
"It's high time we here in the U.S. started paying better attention to books published internationally. Take for instance, Little Bird, winner of the 2011 Prix Sorcières for illustration (the French Caldecott). Yes, the book is visually stunning. It's clear why it won an award for illustrations. But it's a great story, too. About the small things in life. About keeping your eyes open for the little ways that make every day different, unique, and a day to be treasured."
—A Year of Reading, Mary Lee Hahn
“Such a sweet book highlighting how even the tiniest of things can create great change. Lovely illustrations paired with a lyrical story that will reach in and touch your heart.”
—Porter Square Books via Literary Hub
