Como puede curarse una ala rota / How can Heal a Broken Wing?

by Bob Grahanm

In a city full of hurried people, only young Will notices the bird lying hurt on the ground. With the

help of his sympathetic mother, he gently wraps

the injured bird and takes it home. In classic

Bob Graham style, the beauty is in the details:

the careful ministrations with an eyedropper,

the bedroom filled with animal memorabilia,

the saving of the single feather as a good-luck

charm for the bird's return to the sky. Wistful and

uplifting, here is a tale of possibility and of the

souls who never doubt its power.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Animals, Birds, Fiction, Nature, Realistic Fiction

40 pages, Hardcover

First published April 9, 2008

Reviews

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one surprised me. I ordered it for my littlest human, a curious mischief maker who will
paint his face with chocolate pudding or check to see if small pieces of playground rubber bits will fit up his nostril (yep, they will). He loves animals, especially frogs. And when I asked him what he wanted for Christmas he told me that he needed a skeleton to learn about bones. This is the kind of child that can scare a mother, just a little bit, but also make her heart swell with pride over his against-the-flow-of-normal-traffic patterns, a "screw that" kind of kid, who'll sit next to a stereo speaker and memorize toad calls rather than ride his training wheeled bike over to the neighbor's to see what's on their playstation.

So I ordered this book for him, a beginning reader, to help him understand the illogic of compassion, and to balance out the purchase of a highly detailed and impersonal anatomy book with bones,guts, and all the things I know he'll spend hours staring at. I ordered this book because people are than more collections of organs and he may need to be reminded of that, just a little bit. And now that I've paged through the book myself I'm really loving it more than I should. And why is that? Well, I blame the parents.

The boy's mother at first doesn't want to stop and allow her son to attend to the bird- she's got shit to do, little guy, and wrapping up one of the millions of germy, injured pigeons crapping all over the city isn't in her schedule. But eventually, she gives in, and helps her boy wrap the bird up. In her own scarf. That she just had around her neck. And then she wedges the bundled beaked thing INSIDE HER PURSE. AND TAKES IT ON THE SUBWAY. And that is why I am sure this is the boy's mother. Because other women unrelated to this child would have better sense, more of a pull toward logic and health codes. After all, she isn't made of money. She will see that scarf again around her neck after a thorough wash on hot/hot with some color-safe bleach, and she'll bleachwipe the hell out of the interior of that bag and use it again to collect gum wrappers and chapsticks and cellphone and broken restaurant crayons. But her heart has now overruled her head. Her boy wants to help a something hurt and barely living. Fuck the scarf! Fuck the purse! Help the poor bird! is what wins out.

So, where was I? The illogic of compassion. Yes. This book has it. Dinner plans? Forget it. The bird needs a newspapered box made with breathing holes and proper bandages (the faster that scarf is sprayed with oxyclean and thrown into soak mode the better!). The whole family chooses to take the time to help out a pigeon (did I say it was a pigeon? Because it is. It is not a rare species, or a tiny songbird tweetling out a sweet melody. It is an unsightly pigeon- it could be what's for dinner in France!) No one cares about a stupid pigeon. Except this boy. And then his mom. And later his dad. This illogic is contagious. And it got me too. Which is exactly why I bought it for my boy. I hope he catches compassion from this book. And I'm preparing myself mentally now for a time when I'll have to sacrifice my scarf for some half dead squirrel and remind myself that I am not always a heartless asshole, and I really do want my kid to blame his parents for infecting him with compassion.

[Roxanne Hsu Feldman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Since I am not one who usually loves books with strong and obvious messages, I surprised myself for really liking this one. Why? First and foremost, I think it is because that there is a real plot and emotional arc in the telling of this gentle and simple story of hope. Hope in healing the wounds of the world (a page with the TV screen showing the current War in contrast with the family's loving care of the bird); hope in having our next generations to have compassion for the world around them; and hope for the inter-generational "collaboration" in finding ways to heal.

Graham's cartoon illustrations do not reduce the emotional impact of the story -- the varied composition, perspectives, page layouts, all contribute beautifully to accentuate the events and the interior motions of the characters. That one spread where you only see Will and the bird with broken wing (as an extreme close-up from the spot on the cover) is superb! The more and more closely I examine this work, the more I appreciate it. (So, just changed from 4 to 5 stars!)

[Lisa Vegan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This author-illustrator seems to write and illustrate books with loving people and families who are animal friendly in various ways.

I just read 2 other picture books by this author-illustrator (and just now noticed that a 3rd book by him that I read recently was a sequel, and I haven’t read the first book). When I was alerted to the other two books I read today, I noticed that this book has been on my to-read shelf since November 23, 2008, so I reserved it at the library when I reserved the other two books I read earlier today. I’m now happily wallowing in Bob Graham wonderland.

My only gripe is that all the way through this book I wanted to shout: “Call a vet!” But maybe this family knew more than I do, and maybe not, but there is a very satisfying end to this story. I was left feeling uplifted, for which I am grateful, because at points earlier in the story, I felt very sad; when I was young, I would have gotten quite disturbed during some of the earlier portions of this story.

I love how color is used here. Will, the boy in the story, is painted in bright colors and almost everything else is shown in more muted colors. I enjoyed all the pictures in this book. There is much in the background of many of the illustrations that brilliantly highlights the main story here.

Some interesting discussions might arise with the reading of this book: about cities, animals, birds, hope, and most importantly, about getting involved in helping others.

[LW · Rating 4 out of 5]

****
Una storia piccola , sul prendersi cura degli altri

Questo libro , dalle illustrazioni delicate,ha una costruzione molto particolare
le immagini si succedono nelle grandi pagine ,come fotogrammi di un film,
a descrivere la storia ,
e sono davvero efficaci nel trasmettere le emozioni.
Il testo c'è, a fondo pagina,ma è assai breve ,le sintetizza e serve a rafforzarne il senso.
Una storia piccola ,sulla generosità,
sul prendersi cura ,sull'amore e sulla pazienza ,contro l'indifferenza e la freddezza .
Consigliato a grandi e piccoli! :)
ps.libro sostenuto da Amnesty International

[Amir · Rating 4 out of 5]

یک فصلی از کتاب ابر ابله راوی تعریف می‌کند: «موقع بچگیِ برادرش، خانواده تعطیلات را رفته بودند ساحل. پسرک آن‌جا پرنده‌ای زخمی پیدا می‌کند. بالش آسیب دیده. او را به کلبه می‌آورد. می‌گذارندش توی جعبه‌ای، و به‌ش آب و غذا می‌دهند. تمام فکر و ذهنش می‌شود همین پرنده. با او حرف می‌زند. نوازشش می‌کند. و به‌نظرش می‌رسد پرنده روز به روز بهتر می‌شود و آماده‌ی برگشتن به زندگی و آسمان است. اما این‌طور نمی‌شود. یک روز صبحِ زود، پدر می‌بیند که پرنده مرده است. آن را گوشه‌ای دور از کلبه‌ی ساحلی زیر درختی دفن می‌کند. پسر که بیدار می‌شود به‌ش می‌گوید که پرنده خوب شده، توانسته پرواز کند و دیگر رفته است. می‌گوید که به‌خاطر مراقبتِ خوبِ او بود که پرنده به زندگیش بازگشته و تا همیشه قدردان او خواهد بود.» راوی ادامه می‌دهد شاید پدرش طاقتش را نداشت که حقیقت را بگوید. شاید فکر می‌کرد که خیلی زود پسر خودش چیزهای دردناکِ زندگی را تجربه می‌کند. و لازم نیست عجله کند برای گفتن این واقعیت‌ها. حالا پسر باور دارد که دنیا جای خوبی است، می‌شود کاری انجام داد و اوضاع گاهی بدتر نمی‌شود. تا روزی که پرنده‌ای بمیرد توی دست‌هاش. او حالا فقط کمی دلگیرِ بی‌خداحافظی رفتنِ پرنده‌ای است که چند روزی باهاش زندگی کرد.
.
این قصه و نقاشی‌هاش اما، روز خوبِ واقعی دنیاست. که «گاهی هم می‌شود بال شکسته‌ای را درمان کرد». بال‌های شکسته، پاهای شکسته، و –شاید- قلب‌های شکسته روزی درمان می‌شوند. با گذشت زمان. و با امید.

[Melki · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely and touching story about a boy and his family who spare no expense when it comes to saving a pigeon who has flown into a building. In the end they are rewarded for their efforts.



One of Graham's best.

[The Zahra. · Rating 3 out of 5]

"یک پر کنده‌شده را نمی‌توان سر جایش گذاشت. اما می‌توان بال شکسته‌ای را درمان کرد، با استراحت، گذشت زمان و کمی امید..."

[Narges Amooei · Rating 3 out of 5]

وَه! عجب تصویرسازی‌ای!

[Randie D. Camp, M.S. · Rating 5 out of 5]

In a large, busy city no one notices a fallen bird...except for a kindhearted young boy, Will, who runs to rescue it. Will takes the bird home to his family and with rest, time, and hope the family is able to help the bird heal its broken wing.

What I admired most in this story was Graham usage of color to emphasize the kindness of Will and his family. The city and busy people are represented by greys, browns, and other neutral hues while Will is shown in bright red and blues. This color choice emphasizes the hope and care that the family provided the bird--an example in kindness we could all learn from.

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

"High above the city, no one heard the soft thud of feathers against glass. No one saw the bird fall. No one looked down..." No one, that is, except Will, a compassionate young boy with eyes in his head, and no hesitation in getting involved to help a fellow creature in distress. As pedestrians stream by, oblivious to the suffering bird at their feet, it falls to Will to do what the adults either can't or won't. Dragging his clearly reluctant mother along, he cradles the bird in his arms, eventually enlisting her help, and that of his father back home, in nursing the stricken pigeon back to health.

Australian picture-book author and artist Bob Graham delivers another preschool winner with How to Heal a Broken Wing, which features the same goodhearted love for animals seen in his "Let's Get a Pup!" Said Kate , as well as the same kind of contemporary-feeling family found in so many of his books. I was struck, when reading this, by the fact that Will's parents are led by him to do better - that it is his childlike insistence that something be done that involves them in the first place. One gets the sense that, had she been out shopping on her own, his mother would have been another member of that oblivious crowd. One also gets the sense that we adults have been members of that crowd more often than does us credit, and not just when animals need our help and compassion. This is a hopeful, compassionate tale, one I recommend to all young animal lovers.

[Peacegal · Rating 4 out of 5]

A pigeon lays helpless on a city street. Everyone walks by, enmeshed in their busy lives, until a little boy notices. So begins this sweet story of a small child, Will, and his parents as they work to care for and rehabilitate the injured bird until they are able to set her free.

The compassionate, selfless values on display here are a real treat, and something you'll want to share with children. There is some valid criticism here of attempting to care for a wild animal without the input of a veterinarian or wildlife rehabber, and I do wish Graham would have included a panel of the parents receiving some guidance from such an expert. (It wouldn't have disrupted the story.)

That said, HOW TO HEAL A BROKEN WING is a wonderful celebration of compassion and looking out for the most helpless among us.

[Sue Read · Rating 4 out of 5]

It often takes a child to see and value in a way that adults have forgotten. This is a nice story about a boy who sees, loves and saves a bird with a broken wing. The use of colour is striking as is the layout which engages the reader by breaking down the story into small, detailed sections offering so much more empathy, dialogue and action than is actually written. I really like the 'Mum' character; anxious to help and wrap the bird in her scarf and allow the bird to sit on the sofa! I like the way time is marked and I always love Bob Graham's use of light to highlight poignant messages; note the TV screen. This story is comforting, hopeful, satisfying and offers the reader plenty to observe and discuss.

[Nola Lorraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book starts out on a sad note, but ends well. A pigeon flies into a glass panel high up on a building and breaks its wing. A little boy finds it lying on the ground and takes it home. The family cares for it in the hope that it will fly again.

There aren't a lot of words in this book, as it's told mainly in pictures. The illustrations are good and some are arranged on the page in panels almost like a comic book so that you can follow the sequence of events. A good way of involving a child in telling the story.

[Mercedé Khodadadi · Rating 5 out of 5]

یک کتاب خوب در زمینه‌ی آموزش مهربانی و مراقبت از حیوانات به کودکان. نقاشی‌های کتاب خیلی قشنگ بودند و جملات کتاب خیلی کمتر از تصاویر و داستان بیشتر با تصاویر روایت می‌شه. نقاشی ابرها توی صفحه‌ای که کبوتر در آسمونه و از داخل برج اداری به تصویر کشیده شده، و اون درخشش نور آفتاب، خیلی حس خوبی به من دادند. آسمان آبی، ابرهای پفی و تلالو خورشید در پس ابرها بسیار حال‌خوب‌کن بود.

[معصومه توکلی · Rating 5 out of 5]

عنوان ترجمه فارسی: چگونه می توان بال شکسته ای را درمان کرد؟

[R. C. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an early but strong contender for best bedtime story of 2010. The reader's heart absolutely falls and soars when the bird does. The graphic-novel-inspired illustration style gets the emotions of the bird across perfectly without resorting to personification. Any parent knows that every toddler would stop for every fallen bird; that familiarity and realism makes the story of the bird's plight hit home even harder. This nearly wordless, brief picture book made me cry. My four-year-old was engrossed. He listened with his mouth hanging open and followed with his eyes wide as my finger moved from panel to panel showing which to "read" next.

[Kate Hastings · Rating 4 out of 5]

A boy notices an injured bird in the middle of a busy city sidewalk. He takes it home and nurses it to health. Bob Graham has wonderful, sweet pictures that make the story. I see a tie-in to character development/compassion/ecology.

[Mathew · Rating 5 out of 5]

The city is a busy place and people are often caught up in their own thoughts. So when a pigeon, confused by the sky's reflection on a skyscraper, it knocks itself out and remains ignored until Will, a young boy, comes along. Determined to care for it, he cajoles his mother into allowing him to take it home. In time, the pigeon is healed enough to fly and is returned to the very place in which it fell.

Although there is some writing here, Graham allows his environment and the people in it to tell the story without words. Newspapers and televisions allude to war (very subtly so that the young reader can pick it up if they are ready) and there hints of a subdued pall throughout. Full page bleeds and frameless panels invite us to view the family’s intimate moments whilst they care for this bird and Graham’s watercolours always bring a sense of hope and familiarity to these moments.

Although on the surface this is a story about healing in a way that parallels Footpath Flowers there is something deeper being healed here. I was reminded, with the shape of the book and the themes throughout of 9/11 too and the healing that must still continue today. A powerful urban fable.

[Maryam.Nh · Rating 5 out of 5]

"یک پر کنده شده را نمی‌توان سر جایش گذاشت..
اما گاهی می‌شود بال شکسته‌ای را درمان کرد.
با استراحت...
گذشت زمان
و کمی امید"

اولش نمی‌خواستم این رو بنویسم چون همه تو ریویو این کتاب، همین جمله رو نوشتن (نوشتیم)؛ ولی بعدش دیدم خب چه عیبی داره گاهی یه چیزی هی تکرار بشه؟! خوشم اومد که کتاب تفاوتِ نگاه بچه‌ها رو با بزرگ‌ترها نشون داده. و مگه زندگی همین نیست؟ نمی‌دونم دنبال چی دارم می‌گردم ولی چندوقتیه نگاهم شده "زندگی آبتنی کردن در حوضچه‌ی اکنون" و چه و چه... به طرز عجیبی رقیق و مهربون شدم با آدم‌ها. و "دوست دارم بدوم تا دشت، برم تا سر کوه" حالا دورها آوایی هم نبود، نبود. حالم اینطوری بهتره و ذهنم خالی‌تر.
*ریویو بی‌ربط به کتاب به‌نظر میاد. ولی به نظرم خیلی باربط می‌تونه باشه..

[Amy Brydon Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful little story which focuses on what children see that adults often forget. I think there are lots of ways this book can be interpreted which is why I like it so much. In one way, I first looked at it as a message of hope and no matter how broken things may seem, things can get better. Then I started to look at it as a story of perspective, and the difference between children and adults. No matter what interpretation you gain, the illustrations and the pastel colours Graham uses are very symbolic. He uses bright colours on the child which I think is his way of letting the author know the hopefulness that lives within the child, compared to the grey / washed out colours he uses on the adults. On the last page, both the parents are dressed with more colour which perhaps symbolises the bird flying again and hope being restored. A great story which can be used to open up many discussions.

[SassyBooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very cute

[Angela De Groot · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet, tender story. Lots of emotion in the art. Lots of “Aw!” moments.

[Zahra Labbafan · Rating 3 out of 5]

۴۰ صفحه کتاب که سر جمع دو خط نوشته هم نداشت ولی با نقاشی انقدر قشنگ داستان رو برد جلو که آدم لذت میبره

[Tuyet Lan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Một cuốn sách thích hợp với bạn đọc 3-5 tuổi. Ít lời thôi nhưng tranh vẽ rất chi tiết, màu sắc ấm áp.
Sách hướng dẫn trẻ cách quan tâm và chăm sóc loài vật bị thương (nghĩa trực tiếp) và cả những số phận yếu thế, đang chịu khổ đau (nghĩa bóng) - với sự chăm chú, dịu dàng và kiên nhẫn. Điều này tưởng nhỏ nhưng rất quan trọng trong giáo dục ở trẻ em.

[Agnė · Rating 4 out of 5]

How to Heal a Broken Wing tells a simple yet heartwarming and uplifting story, whose message about compassion and hope goes well beyond the plot of the book. In Graham's own words, "In troubled times, when many of us are losing contact with the natural world, I wanted to show that there is still hope in a coming generation of children who have curiosity and empathy with the world around them, and that care and attention can sometimes fix broken wings."

Also, Graham's use of carefully selected words, panels, and color is very effective:

[Gita · Rating 5 out of 5]

«یک پَر کنده شده را نمی‌توان سر جایش گذاشت، اما گاهی می‌شود بال شکسته‌ای را درمان کرد. با استراحت، گذشت زمان، و کمی امید، شاید پرنده دوباره پرواز کرد.»

مدت‌ها بود دنبالش می‌گشتم و پیدا��ش نمی‌کردم. بالاخره در طاقچه بی‌نهایت خواندمش. کتاب‌های باب گراهام خود زندگی است.

[Susan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to like this one much more than I did. However, though the entire book I was thinking - yelling at the pages - Take that bird to the wildlife rescue people!!!

Seriously, I work green collar and have to say, if you find a wounded bird - or any wounded wild animal - get it to the wildlife rescue shelter. The boy was in a big city, it is almost certain that there are wildlife rescue people there. IF, and ONLY IF, you have some type of veterinarian training and skills or if you are in a remote place where there is no access to wildlife rescue people (or vets) should you try to revive a wild animal on your own.

What I was happy about was that the GR description seemed to be incorrect. Unless my copy of the story was missing a page, there at least were no 'careful ministrations with an eyedropper'. This is very important NEVER feed a bird with an eyedropper. Because birds have craws they swallow food in a much different way than we do. Feeding a bird with an eyedropper can KILL it. Don't believe me, ask the wildlife rescue people, where you should be taking the wounded bird to in the first place.

Yes, I wanted to like this one but could not. The story really should have had the family take the bird to the wildlife rescue people, or at least a willing vet. To give the message to take the bird home for healing is irresponsible in the extreme.

[Sandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beloved author and illustrator David Graham has produced yet another beautiful picture book. How to Heal a Broken Wing tells the story of a pigeon that falls out of the sky and lands in the middle of a busy city. No one seems to notice this poor bird, except for a little boy named Will. With the help of his mother he brings the bird home. Will and his parents nurse the bird back to health and mend its broken wing until finally the pigeon is able to fly away and rejoin the other birds in the wild.

The illustrations are done in a very similar style to David Graham's other books (think "Let's Get a Pup!" Said Kate), but the lighting and the sparsity of text makes the images incredibly powerful. This is a soothing story and the bird's successful recovery is incredibly uplifting. Perfect for those seeking stories about healing broken bones, taking care of wildlife, or simply a story with a happy ending.

[Katherine Fountain · Rating 5 out of 5]

How To Heal A Broken Wing is so inspiring and as an adult, I got goose bumps and felt such strong emotion while reading this story. The story centers around a bird who falls to the ground from a broken wing and no one helps the bird...except for a young boy named Will. Will takes the bird home and cares for the bird and with lots of hope, the bird (spoiler alert) is able to fly again. This book is so powerful with only a few words. If a child can not read yet, the pictures are so detailed that it is still understandable and the message is clear. After reading this story to your class there are so many critical thinking questions and text to self points that can be made. For example: Have you ever needed help? Have you ever helped someone? What may have happened if Will did not pick up the bird? Why do you think other people did not stop to help the bird? What does hope mean to you and what do you hope for? This book is definitely a must have for a classroom library!

[Toby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cybils Award for Picture Book Fiction
The story begins on the end papers, where we see a pigeon flying near the page edge, tall buildings and then a wall of glass that foreshadow the first line of text: "High above the city, no one heard the soft thud of feathers against glass." A gray uncaring crowd walks past until our small hero, in a bright red jacket, struggles up the stairs from the subway. Hope is restored when a larger-than-life Will bends down and gently picks up the fallen bird.
In only 81 words, Bob Graham tells the story of a nurturing family that models compassion for young readers. Along with Will, they will understand that although 'a loose feather can't be put back, a broken wing can sometimes heal.'