Little Bird

From Newbery Medalist Voigt (Dicey’s Song) comes this story of a tiny, inquisitive crow tackling life’s big questions. The smallest in her flock, Little Bird is expected to protect fledglings from predators. A successive attack by a hawk, two cats, and a fisher, however, leaves one of her charges dead and the treasured Our Luck—a “golden chain... and milky drop of hard dew” that the crows believe lends them protection and prosperity—stolen. Though the other corvids doubt her, Little Bird sets off to locate the fisher, retrieve the trinket, and prove she’s worthy after all. She encounters all sorts of animals, tame and wild, through cleverly written interactions that portray their amusing thoughts and quirky behaviors. With each new encounter, Little Bird’s confidence and desire to learn more about the world grow, even as she increasingly recognizes dangers. Voigt’s craft is on full display in emotionally evocative scenes, such as wonder at soaring and palpable fear at an encounter with death. Little Bird is a plucky protagonist, whose joy at discovering her wings, both literally and proverbially, makes this a sweet and uplifting read. Soft spot art by Newbery Medalist Perkins (Criss Cross) provides visual beats. Ages 8–12. [em]Author’s agent: Merrilee Heifetz, Writers House. (Sept.) [/em]