A girl sits at a cafe while her father waits in line to buy lunch.

A one-legged hungry bird searches for crumbs amongst the table legs and feet. Not finding anything to eat, it lands in front of the girl. Unfortunately, she cannot offer it anything either.

A man wanders near the cafe, stooped, scruffy and weary – looking for some kindness from passers by. A little change is all he needs.

Just like the bird – he finds nothing. But when the bird approaches him, he has something to give.

Watching both the man and bird, the girl sees the kindness between them. When her father returns to her with their lunch, she knows what they must do.

A simple but poignant story of kindness between both human and bird. An action so simple as sharing makes a profound difference to hungry beings, which in turn spreads joy among all.

The illustrations hold so many emotions and the muted backgrounds help highlight the characters and their actions. One kindness sparks another underlining the important theme – a little kindness can go a long way.

Author – Phil Cummings

Illustrator – Shane Devries

Picture Book

(2025, Scholastic, Kindness, Homelessness, Bird, Empathy, Sharing, Community)

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