Bird Child

by Nan Forler, François Thisdale (Illustrator)

Bullying and the ability to rise above it are at the heart of this strikingly beautiful picture book. All school-aged children have either bullied, been bullied, or witnessed bullying, and all too often, they feel powerless to stop what has been set in motion.

Such is not the case with Eliza. Her mother has given her “wings to fly” and the ability to see all the possibilities that lie before her. So, when bullies pick on the new student, Lainey, gradually robbing her of her smile and ability to paint beautiful pictures, Eliza wants to help, and she does, by finding a way to show Lainey all that she can be. Then in the schoolyard, Eliza stands up to the bullies. One by one, the other children add their voices, and soon the bullies have skulked away.

Lyrical and eloquent yet realistic and down to earth, Nan Forler’s text is complemented beautifully with François Thisdale’s haunting images. This is a book for every child, every classroom, and every library.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens

32 pages, Hardcover

First published August 11, 2009

About the author

Born in Elmira, Ontario, Nan Forler has degrees in both music and education. She has taught junior kindergarten through to grade eight for over twenty years. For several years, she ran a cooking school for kids, where she shared her love of seasonal foods with children and their parents. Her first children’s book for Tundra, Bird Child, won many
accolades. Nan Forler lives in Waterloo, Ontario.

Reviews

[Christie Kaaland · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book's distinction are the illustrations that seem to fly off the page in luminosity. Each snow-clad double-page spread is framed, like a frosty window in winter, but with blackened edges, highlighting the beauty of the snowy setting on each page. Thisdale's snowy scenery is eclipsed only by the close-up intensity of expression in the girls' faces. Gorgeous illustrations that seem to shimmer in moonlight.

Eliza's mother has always encouraged her to take a Michele Obama motto ("When they go low..") word-crafted as, "Look down, see what is. Now look up, see what can be." When a new girl, Lainey, with stick-out straw hair and a tattered coat joins her class and is seated next to Eliza, she notices the new girls' beautiful, hopeful drawings. But when boys in the school yard bully her and attack her one day, shoving snow in her face and crumbling her hat, the hopeful joy in her artwork fades and soon disappears altogether. Finally, remembering her mother's motto, Eliza stands up to the bully and others join her. This is a hopeful book made more splendid by the touching illustrations.

This is a cut-above bullying-themed book. Dump all those didactic bully-books on your shelf and purchase this one for your classroom or school library. If only more U.S. publishers had the support and freedom to publish nothing but fabulous picture books, with no commercialism. Like they do in Canada. 😊

[Themountainbookie · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book could be helpful for teaching about bullying. However... We really struggled with the abstractness of it. The phraseology in it wasn’t enjoyable to read. The flying part was also confusing and distracting.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Luckily for one young girl, Eliza has been given ‘wings to fly’ by her mother, and learns that helping someone who’s being bullied is the right action. After seeing Lainey, a girl new in school teased and bullied, and standing back at first, Eliza realizes she can’t just watch anymore. The book will be terrific to discuss with younger students. When I’ve read about bullying, I learned that there are three groups to consider, the bully, the bullied, and the bystanders. All play a role in these terrible acts. It’s good to have a book that shows that so beautifully, and this book does, in words and in the gorgeous illustrations.

[Mario Flores · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a great book to read about bullying and what one can do if one is either being bullied or sees others being bullied. I liked how the resolution to bullying was not a physical one, yet a peaceful and cohesive one, requiring action from all other students, not just the one that is being bullied. The story of Eliza and Lainey is very inspiring, and at times was a bit gut-wrenching to see how they weathered the storm of being bullied by 3 other kids. One thing that stood out from the message of the book, was the illustrations of people's faces. I was amazed at how realistic they were, yet blended very well in a cartoon-like manner (but more realistic though).

[Catherine Woodman]

The basic message of this book is about how to help not feel helpless when you see someone getting bullied--how to speak out and make a difference, and sometimes when one person steps forward, others will also do so--and it can stop the silence, wich can stopt he problem. THe illustrations in the story are really unusual and really good--I really found them intriguing and kept my interest as a grown up reading the story. I would recommend highly for the 4-8 year old.

[Gretchen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really interesting artwork. This story is not sugar coated, it feels somewhat dark and the illustrations remind me of Dave McKean's work. As an adult reading this story, I am reminded of how I felt as a child. I'm not sure how a child would react to this story, but I felt very emotional reading it. I loved the saying "Look down and see what is. Now, look up and see what can be."

[The Styling Librarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bird Child by Nan Forler, illustrated by Francois Thisdale – 2009 – This is a story that I’m going to think about for a while. I loved how originality and speaking up for others rose up above all other bits of the story… I also appreciated that there wasn’t resounding regret at the end of the story.

[Jamie Forrest · Rating 5 out of 5]

This Shining Willow Award Nominee is a beautifully written story of a young girl learning to do what is right. The descriptive language and dreamy multi-modal images combine to create a truly wonderful reading experience.

[Nativida · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lainey did not cry and she did not smile.
It was as though the others had taken what was inside her
and buried it along with her hat.
She collapsed onto her seat and picked up her pencil.
And from that girl came drawings of her sadness
that made Eliza feel shame.

[Diana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wonderfully illustrated tale with an important moral for children.

[Carmen]

This book has wonderful illustrations! It has a great message for kids too. My kids really enjoyed this book and so did I.

[Danica · Rating 4 out of 5]

A surprisingly good picture book. Teaches many lessons in a simple, yet sweet manner. I almost teared up at one point while reading this to the kids I babysit.

[Dustin Keller · Rating 2 out of 5]

I simply could not get passed the illustrations... Not my thing...

[Carrie Gelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reread with my current class. So powerful.

[Pam Page · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bullying is presented in a very different story.