Hello, Crow

by Candace Savage, Candace Savage

“A wonderful way to introduce young readers to the natural world that lurks just outside their windows.”—Globe Books

Will Franny ever prove to her dad that crows and kids can be friends?

Franny has a new friend—a crow who brings her presents in its beak. Like a red button! And a silver heart! Franny’s dad doesn’t believe her. He says crows and kids can’t be friends. But Franny knows better. How will Franny prove her new playmate is real? And what will the crafty crow bring next?

Award-winning author Candace Savage, whose crow expertise is lauded in popular books such as Bird Brains, motivates families to be present when exploring parks, backyards, balconies, city streets, beaches, and skies.

Published in Partnership with the David Suzuki Institute

Genres: Picture Books, Birds, Animals, Childrens, Fiction, Family, Storytime

32 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 24, 2019

Reviews

[La Coccinelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've been following the exploits of Canuck the crow for a few years now. For those who don't know, Canuck is a wild crow in Vancouver who befriended a human named Shawn Bergman. There was even a short documentary made about their relationship a few years ago called Canuck and I. Sadly, Canuck disappeared near the end of last summer. Birdnapping was suspected, and much drama ensued. Since then, Canuck's followers have lost their daily fix of the mischievous corvid. I hoped that Hello, Crow! could help fill some of that void.

While the relationship Franny has with the crow is cute, I just can't get past the father character. He's awful! He's a bully. He calls his daughter names. He refuses to believe her, and the things he says to her tread very close to gaslighting. This is not how a parent should be acting. In fact, the book would've worked much better had Franny been trying to convince a skeptical friend that she'd made friends with a crow. The father's behaviour made him seem like he was around ten years old, anyway.

The illustrations are done in that "elementary-school chic" style (or whatever it's called when it looks like a child was hired to draw the pictures). They're colourful and sort of highlight what's going on in the text, but I can't say that I like this style. I don't think I ever will.

It's interesting that the author and illustrator are both Canadian, and the illustrator is actually from Vancouver... so she's probably heard of Canuck. I'm curious to know whether this story was inspired at all by Shawn and Canuck's story.

[Lata · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ve read other books by Candace Savage, and this was a little sweet, but light.

[Deb (Readerbuzz) Nance · Rating 4 out of 5]

Franny has befriended a crow. But her father is skeptical. Finally Franny introduces her father to her new friend.

A simple story of friendship between species, with lots of interesting true facts about crows included.

I am delighted to welcome the arrival of Greystone Kids, a new publishing company that is a part of Greystone Books. From the website: "Greystone Books is a trade book publisher that focuses on high-quality non-fiction books that appeal to regional, national, and international readers. The company is a leading publisher of books about nature and the environment, travel and adventure, sports, social issues, science, and health, as well as books that are exceptional literary expressions of personal passions."

“Under the Greystone Kids banner,” Rob Sanders, the publisher of Greystone Kids tells us, “we will publish picture books for young readers, and non-fiction books for middle readers. Furthermore, this new division will include an imprint—Aldana Libros—to be led by renowned children’s publisher Patricia Aldana—that will bring outstanding books from around the world to the English-speaking market."

To read a chat with the author, click here.

[Cheriee Weichel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Franny sees the world differently from her father. He doesn’t quite appreciate his observant daughter who notices things he doesn’t. When she befriends a crow, he has to see it for himself before he believes it.
Here in Vancouver, we are all mourning Canuck the crow who had befriended a human who shared his exploits on a Facebook page. When Canuck disappeared last summer, we all grieved. This story was at the forefront of my consciousness as I read this. So I really loved the relationship between the Franny and her crow. It’s all believable because it happens. Some people are distressed by the father’s dismissal of Fanny, but that doesn’t really disturb me. It seems like he’s a single parent, and that’s a really tough job.
As much as I admire the art, there isn’t that marriage between text and art that makes both of them become sublime.

[Patricia N. McLaughlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Colorful art and a delightfully kid-centric story describe the friendship between a girl and a crow while gently teaching lessons about the interaction of human sentience and corvine intelligence, intuitive connections with the natural environment, and the importance of respecting differences in human relationships.

[Mid-Continent Public Library]

Crows are very intelligent birds and can even form relationships with humans with enough patience. In this story, a little girl named Franny must try to prove to her dad that crows and kids really can be friends when she meets a crow that begins to bring her presents each day. - Reviewed by Stephanie at MCPL Reading Rocket

[Hailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I NEED A CROW FRIEND

[Christopher Reiger · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is much to appreciate about this book. The protagonist, a young girl named Franny, is independent and eager to explore the world *outside* of her house. The story indirectly encourages readers to get outside, and also highlights different types of "attention" (e.g., Franny's father's attentiveness to order/cleanliness versus her keen outdoor observation). The story centers on Franny's rapport with a crow, and provides young readers with an accessible introduction to corvids (the remarkable and fascinating bird family to which crows belong). All great material.

Unfortunately, "Hello, Crow!" is *just* okay. Maybe it's the visuals? The faux-naif style of the illustrator is appealing, but her spreads seem jumbled and very much at odds with the font selected by the book's designer. (There are exceptions; the endpapers and title page are A+.)

As a natural history nerd, artist, writer, dad, and corvid fanatic, I liked it...but expected to love it.

[Jamie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have very mixed feelings on this one since I was very excited to read a crow-focused story and the art is fabulous. However, as another review mentioned there is the uncomfortable element of the girl not being believed by her own dad, being dismissed as silly, and having to prove to him that she's telling the truth. The crow shows up, the dad apologizes, and all seemingly ends well, but there's a dark alternate ending out there if that crow doesn't appear. It's hard to imagine the author and illustrator (both Canadian and one from Vancouver) are not familiar with, if not inspired by, Vancouver's storied Canuck the Crow. Incidentally, Canuck went missing last year and is presumed dead, which has admittedly soured my reception to this book. The book also takes a somewhat irresponsible attitude towards feeding wildlife, which is doubly weird since the book is explicitly endorsed by the David Suzuki Institute. The last page of the book instructs how to find a place where crows congregate and put out food at the same time every day, which seems inappropriate to teach children to train crows to become dependent on a human food source.

[Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book* · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hello, Crow! by Candace Savage, illustrated by Chelsea O’Byrne. PICTURE BOOK. Greystone Kids, 2019. $18. 9781771644440

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Franny has been going outside every day to play and make friends with a crow – which even brings her presents. But whenever she tries to tell her dad about the crow, he calls Franny a featherhead, a dreamer and wishes she were more reliable and tidy. It isn’t until Franny drags her dad outside and makes him sit and wait that he apologizes for doubting her and for not listening.

Savage’s text and O’Byrne’s illustrations make a nice whole. I liked the girl getting to know the crow and vice versa. And I REALLY liked the Dad waking up and realizing that his daughter was someone he should be listening to and believing.

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS
https://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com/20...

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet nature story with a lot going on about parent-child relationships as well. Franny doesn't always pay attention to what she is doing inside because she is thinking about what is happening outside! Her patience pays off when she befriends a wild crow who visits her and starts to bring gifts.

Busy Dad doesn't believe Franny until he sees the crow arrive to visit Franny. Simple text and charming illustrations make this an appealing story about the pleasures of paying attention to nature.

Back matter includes additional information about crows.

[Elizabeth]

Stupid men, stupid fathers.

[BiblioBeruthiel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Definitely could not get over how awful Frannie's father is and was not able to reconcile with him as being fine in the end.

[Amanda Sanders · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a simple story with simple illustrations that show what is happening but don't add to the story. In this book a girl who loves nature becomes friends with a crow and the crow brings her gifts. I like the story because crows really do this. They are noisy and eat the food in my garden and I had nothing but contempt for them until I first heard a story about a woman feeding them outside her window and they brought her gifts. This book is also based on a real story of crows doing bringing gifts to people. It makes the crows more lovable. Now when I see them eating my tomatoes, I don't mind.

[Laura Valdez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Me encantó este libro, es el segundo libro que leo de esta escritora y simplemente me encantó.
Cuenta la historia de una niña que se hace amiga de un cuervo y como su papá intenta comprender como su hija puede ser amiga de un animal. Al final el papá acepta la amistad de la niña con el cuervo y se alegra de que a su hija esto le haga feliz.

I loved this book, it is the second book I have read by this writer and I simply loved it.
It tells the story of a girl who befriends a crow and how her father tries to understand how her daughter can be friends with an animal. In the end, the father accepts the girl's friendship with the crow and is happy that this makes her daughter happy.

[Lynne Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I actually had a pet crow growing up so part of this appealed to me but it just didn't connect for me. Maybe because being a dreamer should have more connected with an action to make dreams come true rather than whether a crow is an imaginary friend or not. I'm not sure, but as much as I wanted to absolutely LOVE this book it didn't work so well for me.

[Kazia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nature/being a naturalist is, in general, my aesthetic, so the greenery and the activities Franny did outside while waiting for her friend as depicted in the illustrations I really liked. It made me wish that I had a forest for a backyard.

[Andréa]

Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss.

[Jacob Hoefer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heart warming?
Facts about crows?
Kids showing their parents what for?
Triple check and five stars from a boy who wishes he was a crovid.

[Annese · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute enough. The unsupportive dad truly annoyed me.

[Taylor Kundel-Gower · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute. Befriending a crow is my wife's dream.

[Brenda Kahn]

Sweet story of a busy, curious little girl whose busy, unconnected father makes assumptions.

[Miss Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

A young girl who loves nature makes friends with a crow but her family doesn't believe her. Can she convince them of the truth? Preschool and up

[Angela De Groot · Rating 4 out of 5]

A girl makes friends with a crow. I like the Curious About Crows back matter.

[Jenn · Rating 1 out of 5]

Frannie's dad is a jerk. Why can't parents either A) Believe what their kids tell them or B)Encourage their active imagination?

[Mountain Lover · Rating 1 out of 5]

another book that failed because of poor illustrations.

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my favorite book I've read while tutoring my 2nd grader so far

[Ozzy Alverson · Rating 3 out of 5]

this feels more like a lesson for adults. The dad in this book sucks

[Afoma (Reading Middle Grade) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this picture book was such a pleasurable experience. Franny is a bright, determined, and nature-loving protagonist. Books like this one encourage a healthy dose of curiosity toward nature and foster a love for animals.

If you’re looking for a fun, adventurous book, a picture book about birds, or one to encourage your kids to go outside more, Hello, Crow is a fantastic pick! Read my full review and see sample pages here.

Thanks to Greystone Kids for an e-ARC via Edelweiss