Boundless Sky

by Amanda Addison

Nobody knew, nobody dreamed, nobody even considered the possibility that a bird that fits in your hand might fly halfway around the world looking for a place to nest . . . or that a young girl from northern Africa might flee halfway around the world looking for safety. This is the story of Bird. This is the story of Leila. This is the story of a chance encounter and a long journey home.

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

Hardcover

About the author

Amanda Addison is an award-winning author of books for adults and children.
Looking for Lucie was listed for:
SHORTLISTED FOR THE NEW ANGLE PRIZE 2025
SHORTLISTED FOR THE EAST ANGLIAN BOOK AWARDS 2024 (MAL PEET CHILDREN’S AWARD)
Her writing has been translated into German, Greek, Italian and Ukrainian. Her picture book, Boundless Sky, was nominated for The CILIP Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Medal, and her YA novel, Looking for Lucie, was listed for the Searchlight Writing Novel Opening Award. A graduate of Chelsea school of Art, her writing and artwork are inspired by travel, textiles, and the natural world. Amanda holds an MA in Writing the Visual and lectures in Art & Design and has also led workshops in Creative Writing at the National Centre for Writing. Amanda lives in Norfolk, UK, with her family.

Her writing includes flash fiction, short stories, picture books and novels. She explores themes of home and belonging, and enjoys using the juxtaposition of rural and city life. Her characters are often artists or scientists, as their curiosity about the world around them are two sides to the same coin, and the exploration of art and science can give us meaning and purpose in life with its infinite avenues of discovery. Amanda’s debut YA novel, Looking for Lucie, Neem Tree Press 2024, explores the above. It is a contemporary story of identity, self-discovery, and newfound friendship. Lucie, an 18-year-old art student sets out to uncover her ethnic heritage and family history with her new scientist friend Nav. Together they unravel family secrets.

Amanda believes in the power of stories as a window on the world, and a mirror to better see ourselves and is passionate about stories which are empowering and inclusive. When not writing she can be found swimming in the North Sea or running in the countryside, and that is when she gets some of her best ideas!

Reviews

[Hilary · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars. A nice enough story of a swallows journey. The illustrations didn't appeal to me, I found the story and illustration style a bit of an odd mix, a story that seems factual but has a few more fantasy or not really correct elements to it. Likewise with the illustrations, sort of realistic in places and not in others. This is confusing for children, not knowing which parts are imagined. There is a map at the back but a few facts about swallows or their journey would have been good.

[Steph Palmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful story about a swallows migration journey from Alfie's garden in England, via Leila's house and back again. On the way back to Alfies the bird becomes thirsty once more so stops at her friends house Leila, but she is not there so the bird continues its journey thirsty. The bird continues its journey home to find that Leila lives next to Alfie where we realise that Leila has moved to England as a refugee. This book is a lovely representation of refugee experience and bird migration.

In a class with year 1 pupils, this could book could be used to help children understand seasonal changes and what different animals do when the weather changes. The children can think about how it might feel moving to a different country and what that person might face and how we can be their friend.

[Michelle Farella · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a fan of the illustrations

[Amy Aldridge · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story told so beautifully and simply, yet with so many elements to it waiting to be explored. From migration of birds, to unlikely friendships, to refugees and asylum seekers. A wonderfully powerful book.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A beautifully illustrated, lovely perspective on refugees and their experiences, alongside nature in a small bird's migratory journey.

[Miss Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

A birds flight to warmer weather is traced in small bursts and chronicles the people he meets along the way. Cute ending. Elementary and up

[Theediscerning · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disclaimer – I didn't read this book, rather I witnessed it through the medium of read-along Youtube video, courtesy a month-long programme of such events devised by the publisher. Even though lockdowns are getting to be a thing of the past I cannot see a reason not to applaud such an initiative, aiding educators and youth literacy groups with free materials. And yes, I am still providing my opinions entirely off my own bat and with no thoughts of bias, prejudice or baksheesh.

And seeing as I mentioned lockdowns, and the video suggested it was filmed in one, it's worth mentioning this is apparently supposed to inspire our mind to thoughts of travel. Well, we learn about the migration of a swallow – despite none of the text I was privy to actually saying that's the bird concerned. And then we learn the whole thing has been about something else, for we've travelled to Wokeness #101, as it turns out the bird character has not been the only one to travel thousands of miles. Apparently the migratory journey is given a map at the back of the book, but that's it, and the whole thing then is a bit airy-fairy, a semi-fictionalised bird migration, some social engineering, a nudge towards us all being kind, and nothing to really make it that enjoyable. The artwork didn't float my boat much, either.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Delicate illustrations, created with pencils and then digitally finished, accompany this touching story of two separate journeys. Bird's migratory patterns take it all over the world, and several individuals, including a boy named Alfie, notice it flying by them. When it arrives in an oasis in the desert, Bird is offered a drink by Leila, a girl with a tender heart. Bird makes her rounds, reaching her destination and resting for a little while before starting back again. This time Leila is missing from the oasis, having moved to a new country. The final pages show the bird having returned to its starting place, and Alfie and Leila seem to find some common ground, despite their differences, in Bird. Two maps, one in the front and one in the back, show the path Bird took, flying from the British Isles to the tip of Africa and back again. How a small bird can survive such long flights and such ferocious weather is beyond me. I was moved by the illustration showing Bird being assailed by an ocean storm while a boatload of passengers, possibly refugees, faces the same tumult. Young readers may thrill at Bird's story of survival while also noting the resilience of Leila and wondering what prompted her family to relocate.

[Beverley Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written & gorgeously illustrated. Boundless Sky is a rare thing; both a wonderfully useful aid for teacher/parent to use as a way of opening up important discussions about friendship & compassion, the flight & needs of asylum seekers, migration & what it is that makes us 'home'. It also makes a beautiful gift with its moving message of love & kindness. Each word carefully crafted to knit together the migration of little Bird as he searches for a place to nest & the fleeing of Leila & her families long journey, to find a peaceful place to call home. The illustrations are so delicately & tenderly drawn Together, both the words & pictures within this book make it a triumph, leaving a strong & meaningful message of hope in these times. Today, more than ever before, our world must surely learn from Alfie as he embraces & warmly welcomes both Leila & little Bird.

[Ellee Nichols · Rating 3 out of 5]

Copyright date: 2020
Star rating: 3
Award: N/A
Genre: fiction
Summary w/ themes: This book is about a bird that is migrating. On his way down to South Africa he stops in a town with a girl who gives him food and water. On his way back, the town she usually is in is deserted and there is a storm raging on. He stops a few towns up and finds the girl, and wonders why she is far from home. this book has a theme of migration.
Use for future classroom: This could be a book that is used to transition from talking about refugees into talking about migration.
Thoughts of book: I thought this was an okay book. I liked the images and the story was pretty sweet. However is marketed as a book about refugees and I feel as though that part wasn't touched on as much as it should have to be considered about a refugee. To me, this book is more so just about migration.

[Sarah Passingham · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thoughtful, wise book about friendship, compassion and movement. Essentially a children's book for reading aloud in the home, but the combination of clever text and beautiful illustrations go well beyond the simple story of Bird's migration, providing opportunities for discovery and discussion. The scope is huge, with the potential to explore migration, climate change, political turmoil and difference, enabling it to be used in the classroom and with much older children. I might go so far to say that it's an important book. I'm a recent first-time Grandma and I've already put this book aside for reading and discussing with my grandson in years to come.

[Ella · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely story about the migration of birds, showing their journey at different times of the year. At the back of the book, there is a map which clearly shows the journey the bird takes from the UK to Africa and back each year. The book very subtly touches on refugees in a very clever way. One of the girls who the bird passes on their journey to Africa is not there on the way home and is back at home living next door to Alfie. This is a very interesting way of showing the movement of refugees. I think the story would be fantastic for both KS1 and lower KS2 with the potential for a unit of work for lower KS2. The illustrations throughout the book are beautiful.

[Daisy Wildman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story follows a bird migrating from Britain to Africa. On the way the bird travels through the desert and is given water by a kind girl. On the way back from Africa the bird stops by the girl’s house again, but she isn’t there. We see the girl in a boat during a storm, as the bird travels over the sea, and finally at the end the bird meets her in Britain and comments on how far away she is from home. This story focuses on both the theme of kindness due to the girl’s kind act towards the bird and on refugee situations as we experience the girls transition between homes and her journey across the sea.

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

We love this book. It’s a gentle but powerful fairytale-like story, and I’m firmly of the mind that speaking to children (and often adults!) through imagination has a deeper and more lasting impact than lists of cold facts. So reading it to my 7-year old with the older children listening ticks the boxes of a wonderful heartfelt story of adventure and also the opportunity to feel on a deep level the experience of migration, whether as a bird through seasonal migration or the movement, chosen or otherwise, of people from their homeland. It’s not a factual book about swallow migration and clearly isn’t meant to be - but it offers a deeper and more (for me) fundamentally meaningful story.

[Erin Buhr · Rating 4 out of 5]

This beautifully illustrated book feels like a breath of fresh air. It is the story of migration of a bird, but also immigration. A little bird travels from Europe across all of Africa each year. As you follow the tiny but mighty migrating bird, you encounter a little girl who soon begins a journey of her own. It is a subtle and yet powerful story of quiet strength. A creative way to discuss a complex issue and draw unexpected parallels. The soft, muted illustrations depict the changing landscapes and great treks with grace. A unique picture book.

[Brian Grant · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the familiar tale of a swallow’s overwintering in Africa emerges a beautiful allegory of human migration in these troubled times. It’s become a firm favourite with my five- and six-year olds, though older and younger children will also enjoy it. Superbly illustrated and stands up to repeated reading. Strongly recommend.

[Sarah Gerard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book mesmerizing to read, the words and illustrations are just beautiful. The book is clever and touches not only on bird migration but also refugees in a very subtle and clever way. Would link to the N/C in so many ways- I love the map that is included in the book- I personally always love it when books include maps. So powerful.

[Laura Brandon · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful story of Bird's migration path from Alfie's garden in England, via Leila's house. Bird doesn't see Leila on the way home. We then realise that Leila has moved to England as a refugee, and lives next to Alfie. A lovely perspective on refugees and their experiences, alongside nature.

[Barbara Marshall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Boundless Sky is a truly beautiful book with such a relevant focus. Delicately understated and tenderly illustrated it is just what our broken world needs right now - a little piece of motivational magic.
Barbara Marshall

[James Haddell · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful depiction of migration, laying the story of a swallow's flight over the journey of a young refugee.

Each of these epic voyages amplifies the courage of the other, in poignant tribute to the strength of spirit found in nature & human character alike.

[Rebecca Shields · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a gentle, meaningful book. My children have long grown up and I found myself wishing I had had this book around to read to them when they were small. Gorgeous illustrations support the intelligent text. Recommended!!!

[Louise Goddard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely story about a girl and a bird who just want to find their home.

[Alice (Children's Books Librarian) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story of a bird and a young girl fleeing from North Africa but both have the same mission: Looking for the safe, peaceful place to call home.

Minimal text, lovely art style throughout.

[Pinky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bird migrates from place to place and is used to seeing familiar faces in certain places. Leila goes missing from her regular place, but Bird finds her again in another place. Turns out humans migrate just like birds do.