Little home Bird by Jo Empson

Little Bird loves his home. He has the perfect branch, delicious food, his view and beneath his branch there are set of wind chimes providing him with his favourite music. When the weather changes Little Bird's brother explains it is time to move to their other home.  The birds need to fly south for the winter. Little Bird does not want to leave his branch (take a look at the notice carved into the branch which you can see on the front cover above), his food or his music behind so he thinks up a clever way to take everything with him on the journey.  But it is hard to fly and to keep up with the flock and the flight is so long. He drops his branch and it is picked up by a happy dog. He drops the wind chimes which are found by a shepherd gathering his sheep on a snow covered mountain.  He drops his berries and they land on the spikes of a porcupine.  Eventually the flock reach their summer home. Little Bird has managed to bring his nest and while it is empty it is soon filled with wonderful things making this new place feel just like home.

On page six of this book there are some magical words and when I read them I knew I had fallen in love with this book:

"It's time to fly south to our winter home, where the food is plenty and the wind's breath is warm"

Then I stopped to look at the exquisite illustrations. I just want to reach out and stoke those feathers.

Here in an interview with Jo Empson.

Simply lovely. Kirkus

Jo Empson has created a really endearingcharacter, we feel Little Bird’s sense of indecision when he has to leave his home,his sense of loss when his favourite things have gone and we share his joy whenhis nest is no longer empty. Story Snug

I would pair this book with Lucy Goosey.