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The Mountain That Loved a Bird
""I am Joy, and I have come to qreet you.""A beautiful bird named Joy stops one day to visit a mountain. Every spring she flies high in the air, looking for the best place to build her nest and raise her children. As much as Joy would like to stay with the mountain, she must leave to continue her search. After hearing the mountain's pleas for her to stay, Joy is so touched she makes a very special promise that each spring the mountain will be visited by one of her kin. Over time the birds bring about a wonderful change in the mountain -- a change that will transform the mountain forever.
28 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1985
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
February 3, 2025
Wonderful story about a bird that visits a barren mountain and has her offspring do the same. Love the line:
"I am Joy, and I have come to greet you."
Love how it is a good message of persistent effort to greet people (or stone mountains) with joy and love.
"I am Joy, and I have come to greet you."
Love how it is a good message of persistent effort to greet people (or stone mountains) with joy and love.
April 25, 2008
Ok, It’s a good thing I read this by myself first, and that there were no kids around, because I was teary eyed all the way through it.
The story is very lovely, and it’s interesting for adults as well as for beginning readers. The illustrations by Eric Carle seemed more sophisticated than most in other children’s books; I really liked them a lot.
The story is very lovely, and it’s interesting for adults as well as for beginning readers. The illustrations by Eric Carle seemed more sophisticated than most in other children’s books; I really liked them a lot.
November 8, 2008
While not specifically pagan, I found the book with its profound message and natural landscape to be a perfect addition to my son's spiritual library. On the surface, it is the story of a bird whose yearly visits cheer a lonely, lifeless rock of a mountain and the slow and subtle changes that allow that mountain to become a suitable home and haven for more than just that bird.
Underneath, however, are powerful lessons of love and hope, determination and stamina, friendship and charity.
I think the story will be a great way to showcase the impact of small bits of charity, for example, as the mountain's painful loneliness was broken up by a few hours of time each year as a caring friend came to visit. It also works beautifully to teach a sort of "never give up!" attitude as both the birds (who spent years and years working to create a haven in the mountain) and the mountain (who worried things would never change and that he'd always be alone) achieved great things through patience and constancy.
Great book, great messages all.
Underneath, however, are powerful lessons of love and hope, determination and stamina, friendship and charity.
I think the story will be a great way to showcase the impact of small bits of charity, for example, as the mountain's painful loneliness was broken up by a few hours of time each year as a caring friend came to visit. It also works beautifully to teach a sort of "never give up!" attitude as both the birds (who spent years and years working to create a haven in the mountain) and the mountain (who worried things would never change and that he'd always be alone) achieved great things through patience and constancy.
Great book, great messages all.
December 7, 2020
Sarjassamme kirjoja, jotka saivat minut itkemään työhuoneessa. Mikä upea varaston aarre! Päivänsäde ja menninkäinen -tyyppinen tarina, joka päättyy värisyttävällä tavalla yhtä aikaa elämän rajallisuutta ja sen jatkuvuutta ja voimaa kuvaten.
November 19, 2019
أجل هذه القصة رائعة. فالعصفورة التي أحبها الجبل عليمة بأحوال الحب وكيفية إطعامه والاعتناء به وإثماره والصبر على نتائجه؛ فرفضها المستمر للوصال هو طريقها نحو الوصال الحقيقي والكامل في عش الشجرة المستقرة.
February 12, 2010
Beautiful story about a barren, lonely mountain who is visited by a bird once a year. The story explains how, over time, a bare mountain becomes seeded with plant life and then animal life. This story would be a nice intro to a study of Mount St. Helens, which was devoid of life after the 1980 eruption, or the island of Surtsey, which rose as a volcano and then became an island, devoid of life. Both Mt. St. Helens and Surtsey now have life, which arrived just as this story described. Lovely book!
July 28, 2019
One of my new favorites. It speaks of love, loss, grief & circumstances beyond our control. It is good on so many levels. I will read it over & over.
February 26, 2021
لطف،عطاء وحياة🤍.
September 13, 2024
Short and sweet story
September 10, 2015
Quite possibly one of the most beautiful and touching children's stories I have ever read. Like Antoine de Saint-Exupery's "The Little Prince", this is a simple story that can be appreciated by both children and adults. It has the atmosphere of a folk tale, and children will love the repetition. It can also be read metaphorically as a tale of death, friendship, love, and rebirth. If the story isn't enough, there are the lovely illustrations by the incomparable Eric Carle that perfectly complement the imagery conjured by the language. Every children's library should have this book on their shelf!
February 12, 2009
What an extraordinary book--for children and adults alike. Love, grief, life, death--this one has it all in its slim volume.
February 9, 2010
More than just a simple chilren's book, this is a touching short story of love.
Every time I read it to my children I feel how powerful this story is.
Every time I read it to my children I feel how powerful this story is.
April 13, 2010
Quite possibly my favorite children's book of all time. It brings tears to my eyes.
December 22, 2016
shhhh tryin to make that goal
February 21, 2017
This is a must read for any teacher. The personification and imagery in this story is beautiful.
September 3, 2019
This children’s story is an encapsulation of how new mountains are encroached on by nature, going from the initial bare rock to vibrant green ecosystems. It starts with a mountain that is sad because it is all bare rock, there are no plants growing on it and so there are no creatures as well. Finally, the boredom is broken a tiny bit when a bird lands on the mountain for a short rest. The mountain expresses a desire for the bird to stay but it can’t. It is looking for a place to build a nest and without food, water or any nesting materials, it cannot build a nest on the mountain and live there. Therefore, the bird soon flies away. While it is not stated, people with knowledge of biology will understand that it almost certainly left behind a small deposit of organic material.
The bird and its descendants come back each year for a short time until a seed is brought and deposited in a crevasse. It sprouts and the roots begin to penetrate the cracks in the rock and start the generation of new topsoil. In later years more seeds are brought to the mountain and after many years, what was once only barren rock is now a lush, green forest with many insects and wild creatures.
It is a standard section of Earth science to study how new mountains are slowly colonized by plants, insects and animals until the areas below the tree line are green forests teeming with wild creatures. This book describes that evolution in an entertaining and educational way. It may seem to be a fairy tale, but it is in fact a science lesson.
The bird and its descendants come back each year for a short time until a seed is brought and deposited in a crevasse. It sprouts and the roots begin to penetrate the cracks in the rock and start the generation of new topsoil. In later years more seeds are brought to the mountain and after many years, what was once only barren rock is now a lush, green forest with many insects and wild creatures.
It is a standard section of Earth science to study how new mountains are slowly colonized by plants, insects and animals until the areas below the tree line are green forests teeming with wild creatures. This book describes that evolution in an entertaining and educational way. It may seem to be a fairy tale, but it is in fact a science lesson.
April 24, 2022
There was a mountain that stood alone for very many years and felt nothing until a pretty little bird rested on its rock shelf. The mountain asked the bird to stay, but she said she would return next year. This happened over and over, and the mountain grew sad. One day it noticed changes happening around it.
This lovely story has a sweet ending and is beautifully illustrated.
This lovely story has a sweet ending and is beautifully illustrated.
September 9, 2024
Lovely LFL find. In great condition though a discard from a classroom library. So, kids don't like it? Well, too bad for them. We adults all know that Joy can plant seeds, heal a broken heart, and come to stay. Welcome her!
March 30, 2019
RAR April picture book reads...krb 3/29/19
July 31, 2019
Thoroughly enjoyed! A great story of longing, sadness, love and rejuvenation.
February 4, 2020
Beautiful beautiful story of hope, courage and Love.
February 19, 2020
Wordy, wordy, wordy. It needed half the words gone. Not even Eric Carle's illustrations could save this story.
Read
February 8, 2022Nice
July 5, 2022
Absolutely breathtaking. A lyrical portrayal of grief and joy.
December 29, 2022
One of my absolute favorite books from childhood.
March 26, 2023
Picked it up at a tag sale because of the collages.
Kinda loved it. Very sweet.
Kinda loved it. Very sweet.
February 4, 2025
A book about sowing the seeds of friendship and letting them grow, but also the importance of setting boundaries and prioritizing your own needs.
March 20, 2025
Not me sobbing into a throw pillow while reading this.
August 10, 2020
I remember reading this book to my children and getting all misty-eyed because it was so beautiful. It is a well-written picture book with illustrations that fit so perfectly it would transport me to another world. I just reread it and it still does.
Although I believe this was written for small children to hear it was written just as much for the adult reading it. It's honestly good at any age in my opinion.
In this book the mountain has a bird named Joy visit him but because he provides no food or water she cannot stay. Eventually the mountain cries and Joy plants seeds by his tears and there is eventually enough food and water to sustain life. Joy can stay.
The pictures are huge and surprisingly realistic for collaged art. The color pallet changes subtly but powerfully. This echoes the moods of the mountain. The first page is a cold gray mountain. The last page is a bright green tree with a bird in her nest.
This book is not only a good story with pretty pictures it also teaches us. That's right. You can't ignore the Earth science lesson we get out of this book. Some people think science class is boring. Well some of those people might accidentally learn some science here, about what life needs to grow and thrive.
Although I believe this was written for small children to hear it was written just as much for the adult reading it. It's honestly good at any age in my opinion.
In this book the mountain has a bird named Joy visit him but because he provides no food or water she cannot stay. Eventually the mountain cries and Joy plants seeds by his tears and there is eventually enough food and water to sustain life. Joy can stay.
The pictures are huge and surprisingly realistic for collaged art. The color pallet changes subtly but powerfully. This echoes the moods of the mountain. The first page is a cold gray mountain. The last page is a bright green tree with a bird in her nest.
This book is not only a good story with pretty pictures it also teaches us. That's right. You can't ignore the Earth science lesson we get out of this book. Some people think science class is boring. Well some of those people might accidentally learn some science here, about what life needs to grow and thrive.
May 11, 2023
Я чытала і перачытвала гэтую кнігу з самага дзяцінства. Гэта вельмі прыгожы, вобразны, напоўнены пачуццямі тэкст. Ён пра любоў (я б не сказала, што пра каханне), пра працягласьць жыцьця, пра цеплыню, пра пазнанне сябе і пра асабісты рост. Гэтая казка адначасова і простая, і шматузроўневая. З дзецьмі розных узростаў можна абмяркоўваць розныя тэмы.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews