Outside Amelia’s Window

American redstart fledglings inspire a solitary child to befriend neighboring children in this kindhearted picture book. Though Amelia, who uses a wheelchair and reads as East Asian, is “a bit lonely,” she avoids meeting the children who move in next door. “She just didn’t think that she could./ Not anymore./ Not like she used to,” and instead stays inside reading fantasy tales. But when a redstart lands on her windowsill and snatches a ribbon, Amelia becomes enraptured by the bird’s efforts to build a nest, and then eagerly watches as two eggs produce chicks. Reading about the birds’ epic migration makes her think, “If they can do it…// …perhaps so can I?”; she then ventures out, playing with a light-skinned boy and tan-skinned girl. Budisan’s dreamy artwork employs a mix of pencil and watercolor techniques, creating a delicate effect that suits Nastro’s quiet narration and its interweaving of natural elements. Ages 4–8. (Mar.)