The Birdman

by Veronika Martenova Charles, Annouchka Gravel Galouchko (Illustrator), Stephan Daigle (Illustrator)

Noor Nobi is a broken man, wandering the streets of Calcutta with no reason to live. His three children, snatched from him in a cruel accident, were everything he worked for and loved. But one day, he enters a crowded market and sees a bird, caged and frightened and sick. With very little money in his pocket, he waits until the vendor is closing up.

Quickly, Noor Nobi bargains and, happy to get anything for the sickly thing, the vendor accepts his offer. For some reason Noor Nobi cannot explain, it is important for him to nurse the bird back to health. When it is finally able to fly, Noor Nobi takes his bird to a big Banyan tree and releases it. Only then is he able to weep and fully grieve for his children.

Before Noor Nobi knows it, he is back at work and taking his weekly earnings to the market where he continues to buy, heal, and free as many birds as he can. Crowds gather; some laugh and say he is crazy, some stand reverently, some don’t know what to think. But Noor Nobi’s kindness saves a growing number of birds, and the birds, in turn, give him new purpose.

Author Veronika Martenova Charles read a short newspaper article about the “Birdman” of Calcutta and her imagination took flight. She traveled to India, found Noor Nobi, and witnessed the freeing of the birds for herself.

The Birdman is a touching, true story, tenderly illustrated by Annouchka Gravel Galouchko and Stéphan Daigle. It is accompanied by an afterword, diary entries, and photographs of the author’s experience.

Genres: Picture Books, India, Biography, Childrens, Grief, Nonfiction

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

Tundra’s Veronika Martenova Charles is an award-winning author and illustrator whose books include: Maiden of the Mist: A Legend of Niagara Falls; Stretch, Swallow, & Stare; The Crane Girl, and her five-book series for emergent readers, Easy-To-Read Spooky Tales. Veronika has studied at Ryerson University, the Ontario College of Art and Design, and recently completed her graduate studies in Folklore at York University. Veronika Martenova Charles lives in Toronto.

Reviews

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Toronto newspaper printed an article about a tailor in Calcutta, who worked six days a week, and, on the seventh, used his few spare coins to purchase birds at the marketplace, only to set them free. Her interest piqued, author Veronika Martenova Charles made arrangements to meet this man. Through a translator she learned that his bird-freeing ritual was an act of self-healing following a tragic accident that took the lives of his family. The Birdman is a true story, and the text is accompanied by an author’s note complete with photographs of the birdman, Noor Nobi, as well as a photo of the newspaper article that was the genesis of the story, a page from the author’s journal, and a photo of the author (in “Prague, long ago”) sitting with her grandmother and the family sewing machine. It is a sweet and touching tale, told in a simple and unembellished style. The artwork, however, is all embellishment, and couldn’t be more amazing. It is as if Henri Matisse, Marc Chagall and M.C. Escher meet for tea in Calcutta, and decided to illustrate this book. Annouchka Gravel Galouchko and Stephan Daigle have truly made The Birdman visually awesome.

[Whole And · Rating 4 out of 5]

Based on the true story of Noor Nobi from Calcutta, a man that transforms his pain and unlocks his joy by buying up and freeing all the birds. A sense of purpose takes over his despair and this hardworking man becomes known as the 'Birdman.'

[Dilara Inam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like the book as a project of the writer who is tracing her interest in a person that she saw on a newspaper article. She traces and meets the guy, then writes a book about him. The story is touching, the illustrations are so striking!

[Payalperera · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful story of hope after a tragic loss.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful story of a man who assuages grief through kindness. Amazing pictures, with folkloric Indian flair.

[Hi · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is a very good book. does anyone know other books like this one?

[Jonathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful story and amazing illustrations.

[Despina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read for my English Reading Circle program.
Very touching story

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, what a gorgeous book to see, and inspiring story to read. The author began by reading an article about Noor Nobi, a tailor in India who used most of his meager earnings to buy the birds at the market, and set them free. Out of tragedy, he finds that there can be hope. There is an extensive back story of the author’s beginning interest and the travel to meet the birdman, then to tell the story. It’s one of passion, and the illustrations bring magic to an already magical story. Each time I read it, I see more that these illustrators added, like the ways the sewing machine is transformed. I imagine this will be a terrific read aloud.

[Cheriee Weichel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful story based on a real person who sets caged birds free. Upon the death of his children, a tailor is trapped in grief until he begins to rescue and free birds. As much as I appreciated the text, the illustrations by Annouchka Gravel Galouchko & Stephan Daigle, can be described as nothing short of gobsmackingly gorgeous. I went back after my first read, just to pour over the detail and colour. I want fabric like this so I can sew myself something glorious to wear.

[Jenielle Haynes · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good book to read to children because it discusses death and how you can overcome events that happen. Noor Nobi stated that “Life is so precious and fragile. In an instant it can be changed or snatched away”. This is a good phrase to know and at any age level children can understand what the book is about and that not all hoe is lost when something bad happens.

[The Styling Librarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Birdman by Veronika Martenova Charles, illustrated by Annouchka Gravel Galouchko and Stephan Daigle – story with a setting in India, after a personal tragedy, a man takes action to free illegally captured birds. Beautiful action story.

[Katie Logonauts · Rating 3 out of 5]

Based on a true story of a poor tailor in India. After he lost his kids (no explanation in story or author's note), he started buying birds and setting them free. The four-page long author's note includes how she found out about his story and met Noor Nobi.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Based on a true story, the illustrations are gorgeous!

[Indrani · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's a beautiful story. Well told with gorgeous illustrations.