Bluebird

by Lindsey Yankey

The wind is missing! Little Bluebird has never flown without her friend the wind before and is afraid to try. So she sets off on an adventure to find it.
Is it making wishes with the dandelions? Playing with the kites? Tickling the grass? Dancing with the balloons? She searches everywhere. In the end, she finds more than her favorite friend--she finds confidence too!

Genres: Picture Books, Birds, Childrens, Animals, Friendship, Kids, Cities

32 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2013

About the author

Lindsey Yankey studied illustration at the University of Kansas and is the author-illustrator of Bluebird and Sun and Moon. She lives in Lawrence, Kansas.

Reviews

[KC · Rating 5 out of 5]

The artistic approach to this lovely story about a bluebird is delightful. The two styles of fonts used are also charming.

[Melki · Rating 4 out of 5]

A confused bluebird goes in search of her friend the wind. With sumptuous, stunning illustrations by the author.

[Shirleynature]

This luminous, visual treasure includes a sweet story to encourage independence and self-confidence. While kids to at least age 8 will appreciate, Adults can relish the rich illustrations. The children and adults in the illustrations inclusively resemble diverse people. This 2015 Kansas Notable Book is Yankey’s debut; also see her second children’s picture, Sun and Moon, a Kansas Notable for 2016. This author formerly worked at Lawrence Public Library.

[Rebecca Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

If I was judging this book just on the art it would be a five. It is so beautiful and unique. I love the mixed media and scrap-book feel. The story was cute and inspiring but I think it would take an older, focused audience of children to sit through it.

[Peacegal · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the unusual artwork.

[Terresa Wellborn · Rating 5 out of 5]

A little bluebird embarks on an adventure to find his friend, the wind. On his way he meets a dandelion with all its seeds, a kite sad and sitting on a park bench, a willow tree with drooping limbs & leaves, a city with people busy doing their own thing including a man selling scarves, a blue balloon in a girl's hand, clothing hanging on lines drying, and a drooping flag. Even the boats floated motionless, and the windchime didn't whisper. Does bluebird ever find the wind? You'll have to read it and see.

Gorgeous, stunning illustrations with incredible detail and resonance. Check this book out!

Themes: birds, wind, adventures/journeys
Vibes: stylizing illustrations, bird is on an adventure & takes us on one, too
Ages: preK (could be adapted into a shorter flannel story OR leave some pages out) to 3rd grade+
Pub year: 2014

[FM Family · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic illustrations and a sweet story made this one really stand out. Love the unique illustration style of Lindsey Yankey which was used really effectively here as the Bluebird explores the town from many different angles. The story got a bit repetitive to me at times "he went to look over here, but no, then he went to look over there, but no" but I'm a grown up, so that's ok! My 4 year old really enjoyed it, for the images, the friendship between the bird and the wind, and the lesson at the end where the bird realizes all he's done on his own. Worth a read for sure.

[Christine Turner]

The wind is missing! Little Bluebird has never flown without her friend the wind before and is afraid to try. So she sets off an adventure to find it. Is it making wishes with the dandelions? Playing with the kites? Tickling the grass? Dancing with the balloons? She searches everywhere. In the end, she finds more than her favourite friend - she finds confidence too!

Subject: Bluebirds -- Juvenile fiction.
Friendship -- Juvenile fiction
Birds -- Juvenile fiction
Wind -- Juvenile fiction
Kite -- Juvenile fiction

Notes
Lindsey Yankey grew up in rural Kansas drawing and playing outside. She was studying illustration at the University of Kansas when a bird flew through her open bedroom window. The bird perched on the bookshelf, looked around the room for a bit, flew in a circle, and back out the open window. That was the beginning of Bluebird . Lindsey is currently living in Lawrence, Kansas. Bluebird is her first picture book.

[Allison Marks · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely book from the first page to the last!

[Holly · Rating 5 out of 5]

excellent illustrations, female protagonist, creative story

[Hannah Moerman · Rating 5 out of 5]

a five star rating for a gorgeous children’s book, a beautiful story about seeking, finding, learning, and growth, and the most beautiful typography and illustrations.

[Donna Mork · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bluebird wants to fly but never has without the wind. He searches everywhere for his friend. Finally finds him in the end, but learns he can fly without the wind.

[Bonnie Lambourn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lyrical language, lyrical art.
A bit abstract, so a little hard to fully understand at first, but overall a beautiful work of art about possibility and believing in oneself.

[Baby Bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review was originally written for The Baby Bookworm. Visit us for new picture books reviews daily!

Hello, friends! Our review today is Bluebird by Lindsey Yankey, a beautifully illustrated tale of a plucky little bird searching for her missing friend.

Bluebird wakes up one morning to a beautiful sunny day, but something about it feels wrong. All at once, she realizes what’s missing: her very good friend, the wind, is not there! This makes Bluebird nervous, because she’s never flown without the wind to hold her up. Still, she gathers her courage and goes in search of her friend through the park, then the city, flying higher and higher on her own as her confidence grows. Still, there is no sign of the wind. Will Bluebird ever find her faithful friend?

This one was lovely. The story was gentle and sweet, with a hint of a lesson (having confidence in your abilities), but focusing mostly on the bluebird’s search for the wind in trees, scarves, kites, newspapers, and other places it tends to make itself known. The mixed-media art is the star of the show here, using papercraft and some gorgeously illustrated characters to build a delicate and lovingly crafted city with a soothing spare palette. The length was fine, and JJ loved the vibrant little bluebird. This was a very pretty book with a quietly charming story, and we enjoyed it. Baby Bookworm approved!

Be sure to check out The Baby Bookworm for more reviews!

[Tasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bluebird has never flown without the company of her friend, the wind. She just can’t bring herself to try to fly without the wind’s help, so she sets off on a quest to find the wind before she flies. There was no wind blowing the seeds off the dandelions, no wind lifting the kite to the sky, no wind rippling the willow leaves. Heading into the city, Bluebird found that the newspaper pages weren’t being blown by the wind at all and even a balloon was being moved by a child rather than the wind. Bluebird decided to look higher, but even from above the flags were drooping on the flagpoles and the sailboats were not racing. Bluebird landed on a roof and wished deeply for her friend to return, and that’s when she noticed that she’d been flying for some time without the wind to help her!

Yankey’s text captures both the wishing for what the wind does every day and also how things are without the wind blowing. The contrast between what Bluebird knows the wind does and how things are when they are still is wonderfully written with simplicity and grace. The entire book has a jaunty brisk pace that will remind readers of a good stiff wind blowing along the pages and moving the story along.

The illustrations in this picture book set it apart. They are an amazing mix of collage, pencil, ink, block print and paint. The result is a richness of styles that zing on the page next to one another and create a world that is unique. Somehow those divergent components form a cohesion feel on the page that is mesmerizing.

A perfect read for a breezy day, this book will invite everyone to find the confidence to fly. Appropriate for ages 3-5.

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so incredibly lovely and well done! A little bluebird is concerned by the lack of wind and goes searching for its friend in all its favorite haunts.

I loved how inventive each scene is. I found myself guessing what would turn up on the next page in my attempt to think like the wind. The mixed media illustrations are phenomenal and do a great job of showcasing the lack of motion. The artwork is strong enough to carry this story on its own, but the poetic language of the text complements it perfectly.

Highly recommended for PreK-2, especially as a gift book.

[Russell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Touchingly beautiful book, as a bluebird transforms their overly dependent relationship with the wind into something less desperate and unhealthy.

Oddly, we see a cafe full of city dwellers reading newspapers. This implies a period of time back when newspapers were relevant and read in cafes by people under retirement age, yet the newspapers reference president Obama - placing the story during present days.

Grandma Brooks should pay more attention to the infant in her care, face down and smothering themselves in the bassinet.

[Jeremy West · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lindsey Yankey's beautiful patchwork art and storytelling is enthralling and wonderful. Follow a little bluebird in search of her friend, the wind. She flies all over town looking for signs that her friend has been there but never discovered her. Just when she almost gives up, she thinks of one last place and reconnects with her hiding friend. It's a story of determination and love that everyone will enjoy.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful book! The art really sells this cute story about having the confidence to try doing something alone without any help. Glad to have it in my home collection!

Recommended for parents to read with kids who are afraid to do things on their own. Also good for teachers who want to address issues of self-confidence. It is also a lovely story for anyone who doesn't want an "issues book". Definitely a good story all on its own.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book nicely ties together a young bird learning to fly more confidently and his search for the wind. Although I would've liked to see the bird's inner conflict a bit more, especially at the beginning, the author's gentle prose carries the story nicely. The real standout, though, is the illustration. She appears to use collage and dyed or inked paper with her lovely illustrations over the top. Quite a beautiful book!

[Kelsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Age: Preschool-Kindergarten

The artwork is breathtaking but the story felt far inferior to it with a somewhat grating repetition of the word "wind." Still, younger children might not mind the repetition and this may be a complimentary fictional addition to a unit on weather. Yankey also provides a unique addition to books on friendship, this one between a living bird and the nonliving wind.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is absolutely beautiful - bluebird looks all over for her friend Wind, but Wind is nowhere to be found. How will Bluebird be able to fly without Wind? This is a great story about learning to believe in yourself and understand that while our friends help us achieve things, we are equally capable of them on our own.

[Char Hight · Rating 4 out of 5]

The font on the cover is what initial caught my attention. The same font is used for certain words throughout the story. The illustrations are beautiful. I love the soft colors. There are words such as acrobatics, lonely, confused, curious, eagerly, rustled, and more. This book would be useful for a lesson on birds, friendship, and even independence (self). Grades K-3.

[Teneisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

If any book in my children's library could transport me back to Art School, it's Bluebird. Lindsey Yankey meticulously illustrated this book using mixed media with an artists eye and heart. Each 2-page layout is built like an art project in itself worthy of framing.

This is another book that I so wish my children adored as much as I do, because I could truly look at it every night.

[Juliaruth readsalot · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a beautiful book! Every page is a wonder to look at and enjoy! Also the story is so sweet. Bluebird missed the wind. While searching for it she discovers she can fly without it. In the end after a little adventure with dandelions, kites, grass, and balloons bluebird finds the wind, and her confidence too.

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yankey's use of multimedia to tell this story of longing, growth, and search results in beautiful, large-format pages, sometimes full and other times with lots of open space to imagination room to spread out. Her palette is warm and engaging and her human figures are carefully and expressively drawn, while her main-character bluebird is overly stylized. Also see her Sun and Moon.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just a precious story about a little bluebird looking for her friend, the wind, so that she can fly.

I love the illustrations the most. They are mixed media and just beautiful. The colors were vibrant and engaging.

3.5 stars

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Bluebird (Simply Read Books, January 2014) written and illustrated by Lindsey Yankey while a small winged being is searching for one thing, another is surprisingly discovered.

My full review: http://bit.ly/1fn4ydN

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

The artwork is stunning. The story is quaint, but I am not quite sure that is would be very memorable. The book is physically quite big. Probably too boring for storytime, plus I can't hold it very well.

[Kifflie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The artwork in this book is very pretty, but it's also rather intricate, and I'm not sure that a lot of kids will appreciate it. Also, the story just doesn't seem to make much sense. The wind isn't there, and then it is?