Bibi: A flamingo's tale

by Jo Weaver

Wise old flamingo Bibi has been with her flock for as long as anyone can remember. Follow her journey in this beautifully illustrated celebration of old age and community from the talented creator of the award-winning picture book Little One.

When the lake dries up, the flamingos are forced to leave their babies behind and fly away to find water. Bibi bravely volunteers to guide the baby flamingos on foot across the barren salt flats to reunite them with their parents. But when one little flamingo starts to fall behind, Bibi teaches everyone a valuable lesson about community and the importance of being there to help one another in times of need.

With stunning charcoal illustrations and just a hint of pink, Jo Weaver brings this heartwarming tale of love and respect for the elderly to life.

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

32 pages, Hardcover

Published February 17, 2022

About the author

Hello! I am an illustrator and picture book maker.

I work mostly by hand using willow charcoal and a putty rubber.

I live and work on the east coast of Scotland with my young family and an ever expanding brood of chickens. When not at my drawing board I can often be found wandering the wild and windy beaches near our home.

I was lucky enough to complete an MA in Children's Book Illustration at the Cambridge School of Art (ARU) in 2015 - a course I would highly recommend to any aspiring illustrator/storyteller. My books have since been translated into six languages for publishers including:
Hodder Children's Books (Hachette UK)
Oxford University Press (UK)
Walker Books (UK)
Kaleidoscope (France)
Orecchio Acerbo Editore (Italy)
Peach Tree (USA)
Eerdlings (USA)
Ars Edition (Germany)
Jei Publishing (Korea)

​AWARDS

CILIP Greenaway Medal 2018, nominated (A Story Like The Wind)
Award Nati per Leggere 2017, winner (Little One)
CILIP Greenaway Medal 2017, long-listed (Little One)
Klaus Flugge Award 2017, long-listed (Little One)
"Read It Again!" Cambridgeshire Children's Book Award 2017, shortlisted (Little One)
AOI Illustration New Talent Awards 2014, shortlisted.

Reviews

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very gentle and thoughtful story about communities, the strength they draw from individuals of diverse ages, and our responsibilities to care for each other, especially the young and the old. A few moments where I thought it was going to be too bleak for me, but it’s ultimately a positive story. Illustrations are stunning.

[Jennifer Setaro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful story with a happy ending. Showing how we must support both young and old when the time comes. Illustrations were beautiful.

[Noina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Un magnifique livre de Jo Weaver, illustratrice de talent. Ca parle de transmission et de l'importance de garder les liens transgénérationnels qui unissent les communautés.

[Kara · Rating 4 out of 5]

A truly moving tale that encompasses the value of elders caring for the young and being recognized as vital to one's community. Respectful and reverent. This story gives me hope that multigenerational living is possible and as nature intended.

[Reading Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story is about an elderly flamingo that helps the younger flamingos get to water. I loved this story it's all about teamwork and helping each other.

[bell1691 · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book about not leaving others behind and supporting everyone old and young. Kinda shows the wisdom of elders and respect for them. I liked that this reminded me of the flamingos in the Atacama desert but for my son I think the pictures were a little gray - he’s only 8 months old so this is probably a book for someone older who doesn’t rely so much on images.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

A darkly hopeful story about flamingos. In the real world, most of these adorable chicks would never make it to the freshwater, however, in this cute picture book, all is well. I don't think this will be a book that gets put on nightly rotation but still worth a read.

[Constance Enmaintenance · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bibi, a toujours fait partie de la colonie de flamant rose. Présente pour tous, elle va accompagner les derniers nés à travers le désert pour atteindre un lac. Ce voyage ne sera pas de tout repos, elle va créer des liens avec les plus jeunes.
Une belle histoire sur les liens entre les générations. Les illustrations sont très belles.

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bibi the flamingo is the elder caretaker of her flock in this heartwarming picture book from English author/artist Jo Weaver. Always there to welcome new chicks, and to show them what to do, she is also their guide when they must make the long trek across the barren, dried up lake to safety, once their parents take to the skies. A careful shepherd and encouraging leader, she ensures that the little chicks make this pilgrimage in safety, so they can reunite with their parents. But who will care for Bibi when she becomes old and tired, and isn't sure she can fly with the rest of the flock, once it is time to migrate...?

Published in the UK in 2022, and here in the states in 2023, Bibi is the fourth one of Weaver's picture books I have read—the fifth, if you count Justin Anderson's Narwhal: The Arctic Unicorn , which she illustrated—and it definitely lived up to my expectations. I have come to expect ecologically sound animal stories that communicate some truth about family and community from her, hitherto usually in the form of an animal mother and child/children. Here we have a community elder/grandmother figure, one who cares for the entire flock, and a story of how that flock returned the care. The story itself is consistent, according to the author's note on the colophon, with the behavior of the lesser flamingos who breed on the shores of Tanzania's Lake Nastron, and who leave their offspring in the care of a few adults, who shepherd them across the dried up lakebed, once the water has disappeared in the heat. As engaging and as emotionally resonant as the story is, I also enjoyed the beautiful illustrations, created using charcoal and then colored digitally. They were immensely expressive, really capturing the emotional register of certain scenes, particularly between Bibi and the little chick Toto. All in all, another win from Weaver! Recommended to young animal lovers as a wonderful bedtime book.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having recently watched several animal-related documentaries on Netflix showing how challenging it can be for some species to survive, I was already primed to be emotionally affected by this touching story about an elderly flamingo. Bibi has been with her flock for a long time, passing down here wisdom gleaned from years of experience to the younger birds. She shows them where to lay their eggs and how to find water. After they hatch, she even helps the chicks cross the arid land to reach the lake where their parents have flown, nudging the youngest one, Toto, when he struggles and giving him time to recover before moving on. After the little flamingos reach the water, Bibi is tired and uncertain about her ability to stay up with the flock when it moves to another area. After all, she is old and has made similar journeys in the past. Readers will be sure that this is the end for Bibi. After all, how can the other flamingos do anything to help her? But that isn't what happens. As time passes, the chicks grow up, and the flock misses Bibi. Once they find her, they enfold her, bring her back to where there's food, and wait until she feels strong enough to take wing. This picture book's strong message of respect and honor for experience and an elder is one that all youngsters should take to heart since it's clear that many in the flock owe their very existence to Bibi. The illustrations, created with charcoal and colored lightly with just enough pinks through digital techniques, feature many splendid double-page spreads that will beckon readers to look back at them again and again. Even the endpapers with their pink feathers covering the entirety of each one are noteworthy. Such a tenderly-told story that will stay with readers long past the moment they close its cover.

[Ronda Roaring · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bibi, Jo Weaver (author/illustrator), 32 pages, Peachtree Publishing, 2022. Lesser flamingos of East Africa can live longer than 50 years. Bibi (Swahili for “grandmother”) is the matriarch of the the Lake Natron flock. Every flamingo knows her call. She helps young parents find a place to build their nests in the soft lake mud and, when one baby is born, she greats him with “Welcome to the flock, Toto.” (“Toto” is Swahili for “child.”) As the season progresses, the water in the lake begins to disappear. The parents need to fly to the remaining water, but the young birds lack the feathers to allow them to do that. Bibi offers to walk the young birds, but as they are crossing the dry lake in the heat of the day, Toto becomes exhausted and can’t go on. Bibi spreads her rosy wings and gathers all the young birds in their shade until Toto can go on. The parents are thrilled to see Bibi and the group. As the young birds are growing up, Bibi is getting older and is worried she will not be able to migrate with the flock. The birds find her lying on the shore. They clean her feathers and encourage her to eat. Finally, she has the strength to fly and, as the group takes off, she stretches her wings and races across a beautiful double spread, whispering one last goodbye to the lake. The story is a tear jerker with gorgeous illustrations in charcoal digitally infused with a rosy pink. The story emphasizes the importance of knowledge of senior members of the family/flock and the value of community. Children who are extremely sensitive may have a hard time emotionally with this story.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bibi is the oldest flamingo in the flock. She takes care of everyone - teaching them how to stand on one foot, showing the first-time parents where to build their nests, and welcoming the new chicks as they arrive. This year, the lake they live on is drying up, and it's a long way to the next one. While the adults fly to the volcano which shadows their new home, Bibi makes the long walk with the young who can't fly yet. Jo Weaver's realistic illustrations are the star of Bibi.

I loved that the old Flamingo was, well, a bit rough around the edges, even the cover shows her missing a good deal of feathers. AJ enjoyed the illustrations, too. She commented that they look like real flamingos. I loved how everyone loved her so much, and how much she was willing to sacrifice. The author explains in the after notes that "Bibi" is Swahili for "Grandmother."

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bibi is a wise old flamingo. When the lake dries up, she carefully helps all the young flamingos travel to the lake, leaving no flamingoes behind. But when it is time for all of the flamingoes to take flight, she worries she is too old to go with them. She quietly sneaks off to be alone. But the young flamingoes notice and search for her. I love that she is valued despite her age, and that the same care that she gave to others is extended to her.

[Rozanna Lilley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay - this is a shameless attempt to catch up to my challenge by reading children's books. That said, it is quite pleasant to go into a bookstore and browse the shelves. This one caught my eye - it's a sweet book with a restrained colour palette about ageing, nurturing and community. Yes, those flamingos are kind to each other.

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really gorgeous illustrations tell the story of a flamingo matriarch and all the ways she cares for her family. Shades of pink, grey, and white make up the illustrations on each page, filled with beautiful full-bleed illustrations. The cover design and end pages of this book, are one of my very favorite parts.

[Tweller83 · Rating 5 out of 5]

7/28/23: So sweet. I loved the theme of this book and how it was done. I was hoping for a brighter pink in the illustrations, but I have to admit that the color in the book is probably a lot more realistic. Loved this book and would highly recommend.

[Zan Porter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bibi is an elderly flamingo who looks out for the flock, and especially the babies--but when it looks like she will not be able to migrate, the rest of the flock tell her it is their turn to look out for her.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very sweet and somewhat sad story about a flock of flamingos dealing with a drying up lake. Clearly this is an ode to climate change and the affect it has on animals. The color palette fits nicely with the story (pink, white, and black).

[Amelie Santoire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ça faisait deux ans que je n’avais pas lu ce livre. Ça a été ma première lecture de l’année avec mes élèves de 4e année.

C’est si beau ! Une belle preuve de bienveillance et d’acception de l’autre.

[Andi Chitty · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not the story I expected when I started reading, but wow did it blow me away! What a stunning tribute to the importance of the elderly members in our society. Just beautiful!

[Awjtf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful book!

[Alyssa Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very sweet.

[Laurence-Gabrielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lu en français.
Ce livre est magnifique 🩷

[Maddie Allard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Way to make me tear up! Such a sweet story of love and community.

[Beverly · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely story about a flock of flamingos and the elderly grandmother (Bibi) flamingo who has taught them how to live. Beautiful illustrations in charcoal.

[Nitza Campos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful illustrations.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bibi helps all the little flamingoes as they make their way to a new location. Then ,when Bibi is old, the young flamingoes return the favor.

Sweet story about intergenerational interactions

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful story with beautiful, muted illustrations.

Simply wonderful.

[Sourimak · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un très très bel album mais pas mon préféré de cette grande autrice. Néanmoins une belle histoire de soutien intergenerationnel qui apprend à se soucier les uns des autres.

[Blanco Meyers · Rating 2 out of 5]

The quality of the illustrations was lovely, but a little too gray overall.
A sweet story about helping others. A little sad, but not nearly as sad as I expected.