Mum is coming to school but my mum is so different. It is Parents and Carers Day. Visitors come to school, talk to the class and then enjoy morning tea of cup cakes in the playground. But mum doesn't walk her daughter to school she carries her dangling from her claws. Mum doesn't talk to the class - she sings. And mum is not interested in the cup cakes so she perches high in a tree. There's a funny implication here about the possibility of bird poo raining down on people sitting under that tree. Then a spider lands on the head of a parent. Everyone rushes about but no one can catch it until mum swoops down and saves the day. This is an important turning point for her daughter. Mum is a hero. Mum has made her proud. So together they fly away home.
So is mum really a bird?
The word allegory might come into your mind when you read My Mum is a Bird. An allegory is a simple story which has a symbolic and more complex level of meaning. Characters, setting, objects and colours can all stand for or represent other bigger ideas.
I am going to suggest mum depicted as a bird could be designed to show she is neurodivergent; or has a disability; or she might be a non-English speaker; or have some mental health issues. She could even be an alternate life-style advocate - hence the seeds for morning tea? Because we don't know this - you and your students will have plenty to discuss. This is a question with no right answer, and I am sure your students will have lots of interesting ideas and also personal stories to share.
I did enjoy the moment of heroism when mum swoops in and eats that huge spider. The classroom or school learning goals are very appropriate - gratitude, empathy and mindfulness - I like these better than the three 'buzz' words used on signage at a school near me: opportunity excellence community and the words from my former school - respect responsibility personal best.
One important thing to notice in this story relates to the embarrassment felt by this child - surely this is a universal feeling. It made me think of several funny scenes in Greetings from Sandy Beach by Bob Graham - the little girl in that story is so embarrassed by her dad wearing baggy board shorts and also when mum has toffee wrappers stuck to her bottom. Also, the embarrassment felt by Emmy Lou in Sloppy Kisses (one of my favourite books).
The bookseller blurb says: A delightfully absurd and touching story about celebrating differences and loving your family - feathers and all.
The author says: Writing My Mum is a Bird was a deeply personal and meaningful journey for me. Inspired by the real-life experiences of a dear friend, I set out to create a story that celebrates individuality and the beautiful diversity that sets us apart from one another. Witnessing my friend’s struggles and triumphs in embracing their identity and navigating family relationships moved me to craft a narrative for those who feel different or misunderstood. My hope is to inspire young readers to accept and celebrate who they truly are, while recognising the unique gifts that diversity brings.
There is a tiny detail in the end papers - at the front all the feathers are in an ordered pattern but at the back one feather is slightly off set in the corner. This might spark an interesting discussion with your library group. You can see inside this book on Evie Barrow's web page. Read more about Angie Cui here.
You can download teachers notes from the publisher page. The notes suggest also reading That Bird Has Arms by Kate and Jol Temple but I thoroughly disagree because these two books are designed to explore very different themes. You might find a companion book in this Pinterest collection from my friend at Kinderbookswitheverything. You might also have a book in your library from 2015 called If my Mum were a Bird by Jedda Robaard. This one could also be an interesting companion book:
Thanks to UQP (University of Queensland Press) for my advance copy. My Mum is a Bird will be published on 1st April 2025. If you live in Melbourne this book you can meet the author Angie Cui and the illustrator Evie Barrow at a special story time held at Readings Books in Carlton.
I am a huge fan of art by Evie Barrow. I previously talked about these books:
No comments:
Post a Comment