FREE

Nature Quartet

by Sam Usher

Boy and Grandad take care of a little bird. When it gets better, Grandad puts it outside, but it keeps hopping back into the house, following Boy wherever he goes. Boy wonders what kind of bird it is. An eagle? An ostrich? A bird of paradise, perhaps? He wants to keep it, but Grandad says it must return to its natural habitat in the wild where it can spread its wings and be free. And so begins an exhilarating journey into the rainforest!

The first in a new quartet of enchanting picture books where a boy and his beloved grandad discover the wonder of the natural world.

Genres: Picture Books, Birds, Animals, Childrens, Nature, Adventure, Storytime

40 pages, Paperback

Published September 5, 2019

About the author

Sam Usher’s first book, Can You See Sassoon?, was long-listed for the Kate Greenaway Medal. He is also the author and illustrator of Snow, Rain, and Sun, the companion books to Storm, the first of which was long-listed for the Kate Greenaway Medal. He lives in England.

Reviews

[Kaethe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the progression from pretty realistic to pretty fantastic. And all the different birds.

Library copy

[Alex Baugh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought we had seen the last of Boy and his Granddad after the final book in the Seasons with Granddad series, but, I am happy to say, they are back. Free is the first book of a quartet in which Boy and Granddad explore the wonders of nature. One morning Boy wakes up to find a sick bird outside his window. He and Granddad care for it, and when the bird is better, put it outside. But the bird comes back in, and again they put it outside. This goes on all day. Boy of course wants to keep bird, but Granddad says it will be happier outside and free. They read that this particular bird needs a particular kind of tree to call home, so they gather up their expedition equipment and head off to find the right tree. And what an expedition it is - full of happiness and birdsong. The ink and watercolor illustrations are done in the same style as the previous Boy and Granddad books so it feels like visiting old friends. There's always an element of learning in these book, and here there is an charming element of the fantastic when the pair reach the tree at the top of a mountain that kids will surely think is fun. I just love the wonderful intergenerational relationship between Boy and Granddad, and how easy they are in each other's company.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Birds, books, and Granddad…that Sam is a lucky boy!

And don’t get me started on the “expedition equipment”😊.

I love this book and series because there is so much discovery in it.

And a lotta human happiness.

[BiblioBeruthiel · Rating 2 out of 5]

My crazy vegan is showing, but I can't, for the life of me, comprehend what kind of ethical gymnastics one has to do to have an entire book based on trying to help a wounded bird where two seconds after we're supposed to be excited that the bird is okay we then go crack some eggs and make pancakes.

[Deborah · Rating 3 out of 5]

A simple story with colorful artwork of a boy who rescues a bird. His grandpa reminds him that the bird needs to be home and free. Loved the chorus of birds. 3.5 stars.

[Samuel · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was pretty good. I liked it. It was also kind of funny!

[Mandi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love the illustrations & the adventure a grandad & boy go on 💙

[Brandon Khan · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Tasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

The grandson and grandpa from Usher’s Seasons series return with the first in a new series. One of the birds outside was sick, so the boy and his Granddad made a cozy bed for it and read a book of bird facts. After having some water, the little bird was feeling better and they put him back outside. Now it was time for breakfast and they made pancakes together. The bird returned for a breakfast of berries. At lunch, they built triple-decker sandwiches and the bird returned again. They took him back outside to help him find his friends. At tea time, the bird returned again and they did some more research. Now it was time for them to help the little bird return to the tree he needed, so they set off to reach the top of the mountain. Happily, the bird’s many friends were there to greet him and shared their midnight feast with the humans too.

Usher blends the mundane and the imaginative into a seamless story that glides from the normal happening of finding a sick bird and steadily becomes something magical and wondrous. I loved Usher’s first book series and am so pleased to see him return with another series with these charming characters, the boy with big ideas, the grandfather who grounds him and the magic that takes over both their lives at times. The writing is simple and lovely. The focus on meals here is a treat that will have readers wanting to make their own pancakes, triple-deckers and tea.

The art is a delightful mix of smaller illustrations on white backgrounds and full-page illustrations that show the garden at Granddad’s house. There is an endearing quality to the images that show the beautiful relationship of the grandfather and grandson.

A joy to see beloved characters return. Make sure to have tea and snacks on hand when you share this one. Appropriate for ages 3-5.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so happy to have more of Boy and Granddad! I thought their adventures might be over after the season's quartet but they are not! In Free they encounter an injured bird and nurse it back to health. But the bird doesn't seem to want to leave them after it is healthy again. So they do some research and discover they must find the right tree for it to call home. Once they know what they are looking for they get their gear on and set out on an expedition! This book has all the sweetness and imagination of Sun, Storm, Snow and Rain along with the lovely ink and watercolor illustrations that invite repeated reads and exploration.

[Viviana · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm not big on the healing animals without contacting a sanctuary/expert first thing

[Jeimy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who could resist that vibrant, bird-filled cover? Sam Usher delivers another heartfelt adventure with Boy and Grandad, his charming duo who always seem to stumble upon little wonders of the natural world. In Free, they rescue a tiny bird with a big personality who quickly becomes attached to them, refusing to fly away even after its recovery. The solution? Boy and Grandad embark on an adventure to return it to the wild.

I couldn’t help but think of my own cat Chipi—short for Chipmunk—who, after being nursed back to health, made it very clear that she wasn’t leaving. Though the little bird in this story eventually finds its wings in the wild, there’s that same lovable stubbornness that made me smile.

Usher’s illustrations are vibrant and captivating, bringing life to each page with color and personality, and the bond between Boy and Grandad feels as warm as ever. This story of healing, letting go, and love of nature will be a delight for any reader who’s ever struggled to say goodbye to a little creature they’ve cared for. Free is a beautiful reminder of why sometimes the best way to love is to let go.

[Patricia N. McLaughlin · Rating 2 out of 5]

In this cautionary tale about the late Anthropocene, a grandfather teaches his grandson how to exercise privileged-white-male dominion over creation by freeing a sick bird instead of keeping it in captivity for their own pleasure. How charitable!

However, they don’t give a hoot about those eggs of another bird species they cracked to make pancakes, nor do they wonder why so many birds flock to the feeder or seem to notice that the only tree in the entire area is located at the top of a barren mountain where all the birds must nest, presumably because their native habitat has been destroyed, perhaps by the fossil-fuel conglomerate Grandpa used to work for back in the day when no one gave any thought to global warming or the catastrophic effects of climate change.

No matter how many times the bird returns, Grandpa and grandson will never recognize that the bird is a canary and their home is the proverbial coal mine, nor will they notice when all the birds stop singing or showing up at the feeder. Usher’s illustrations unapologetically depict the end days of patriarchal hegemony.

[Calista · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have recently discovered Sam Usher from the UK, I believe and I'm enjoying his books. I will get more of his stuff.

This story is about a bird. One morning a boy wakes to find a bird sick on his window sill. He takes it in and he and his grandpa do what they can to care for it and then put it back outside. The bird keeps coming in to be with the people and they keep taking it outside so it's free.

The story is very grounded in reality. Then a shift happens and they take their bird out to a tree and now it's the land of imagination. Surreality is now upon us. The birds invite the people into the tree and they share all the things that were shared with the bird.

I actually really enjoy this story. I like the way they treat the bird. So much fun.

The artwork has a soft art style. Their home feels cozy and warm. Anyone would want to visit there. The art is colorful and whimsical at the end. I enjoyed it.

[The Silvan Reverie | Sarah Street · Rating 3 out of 5]

FREE is a playful and imaginative book that depicts a loving bond between a grandfather and grandson. It starts with a sick bird the boy and granddad help, and then the bird shows up again and again each day, despite their efforts to make sure the bird has everything it needs outdoors. I love the daily rhythm of the grandson and granddad's relationship--how sweet is it that they have tea and cookies together?!

However, I must admit the text of this feels disjointed at times and there is not a clear path to where the narrative is going. Then, at the end we are thrown in a major fantastical element that, while a neat idea, didn't pair with the simplicity and charm of the first 2/3's of the book.

**Note: I was given a review copy of this book by Candlewick Press. Opinions are my own.

[Vera Godley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very sweet book, though hardly depicts how helping a bird and releasing it should actually occur. So it is a bit fantasy and makes for enjoyable read.

A generational story of grandfather and grandson, it speaks to how they lovingly interact with one another. It also speaks to the grandfather's gentle teaching the boy to let the wild bird go to be free and fly on his own.

The multitude of birds throughout the books is delightful. If you're a "birder" you'll enjoy sharing this book with a child. If you're not, well, you'll still enjoy sharing this book with a child.

I received a complimentary copy to facilitate a review. Opinions are mine, alone and are freely given.

[Jared White · Rating 4 out of 5]

I added this to my "cozy books" shelf. The colors and content are prefect for curling up inside with your little nature-lover on a gloomy day and thinking about future outdoor adventures or sharpening up on bird facts and identification. :) Okay, maybe don't try to identify most of the birds in this book, I'm not sure you'll find many matches, but it still may inspire you to learn more about birds.

The colors are very muted and some of the illustrations are a bit small so this probably wouldn't work well with a large group for a storytime but it would probably work with a smaller group (up to 15) of early elementary students.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy Sam Usher's books every time I have one, and this new one will become a favorite read-aloud, I'm sure. With a sweet surprise at the end, anyone will smile and clap. A boy looks out a window and notices a bird who seems sick. He and Grandpa bring it in, give it some water, and notice he's better, so they put it back outside. "That's that." they thought. Well, there is more and more, a repeating story that comes out as perfect as the imagination can take it.
Thanks to Candlewick Press for the copy!

[Ioana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Una dintre păsărele ce îl vizitează pe băiețel este bolnavă. Alături de bunic o îngrijește și o duce în grădină. Însă pasărea nu se vrea plecată și revine în casă. Primește de mâncare, pare că pleacă, dar revine. Oare ce o atrage pe pasăre înapoi în casă? Și mai important, cum îi conduce pe băiat și bunic în vârful muntelui?

https://ciobanuldeazi.home.blog/2024/...

[Brenda Kahn]

A little boy and his grandfather nurse an injured bird back to health. The boy wants to keep the bird, but grandpa says it needs to be free. I adore Sam Usher's books about this little boy and his grandpa. They capture the relationship so sweetly and the addition of fantasy adds a little zing and surprise. His art evokes Peter Spier for me. I just love lingering over the illustrations looking for little bits of detail and humor.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adore author/illustrator Sam Usher and his delightful books that celebrate small, beautiful, ordinary moments in life. This book follows a boy and his grandfather as they try to help a small bird that shows up one morning on their window ledge. I love the glimpse into the relationship between the boy and his grandpa, the ordinary events of their day made extraordinary by this new visitor, and the adventure they end up having together. It was such a charming book!

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cheerful story about helping out a bird that keeps coming by to visit. A good ending that shows it is best to allow wild animals to remain free. The child lives with their grandfather, so it will be especially exciting for kids at storytime to see their family reflected. Good for storytime or reading at home.

[Terresa Wellborn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet book about a boy who discovers a sick bird on his windowsill. With his grandfather's help they tend it help it feel better until the day comes when grandpa suggests they return it to the wild. The end of the book is fantastical and strange, but lovely all the same.

Themes: grandparents, birds, helping others
Ages: prek - 2nd grade
Pub year: 2019

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Sam Usher's books! Sweetly simple but also loaded with things to think about.

FREE is a delight as well. A seemingly straight-forward story about helping an ailing bird and setting it free that takes a delightful flight into fantasy. A joy to read.

[Tina Hoggatt · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story takes a turn in the last third, taking flight into fancy from a beginning grounded in the rhythms of home and natural history. I wasn't sure how to take it at first or how I felt about that change but the considerable charm of the story and the author's illustrations won out.

[SBC · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sweet little story about a boy who lives with his Grandad (or is visiting with him), and who loves birds. One little bird falls ill and hangs about until the boy and his Grandad take him to live in a tree he will love. Illustrations reminiscent of Quentin Blake, and a touch of fantasy at the end.

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

A boy wakes up a sick bird and asks his Grandpa to help him. His grandfather explains that as much as the bird likes the boy and returns, he needs to be free and find his own family. They head off on an expedition to help the bird get home.

Sweet, sweet story!

[Jenna Mills · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet

[Chloe · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book mainly for the sweet grandpa and grandson relationship depicted. KS1

[Cristina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hi