The Dead Bird by Margaret Wise Brown illustrated by Christian Robinson

 

We sing to you because you're dead feather bird

And we buried you in the ground with ferns and flowers

Because you will never fly again in the sky

Way up high little dead bird.

A group of children head into a park with their kite and dog. On the grass they see a small bird and it is dead. 

"But it had not been dead for long - it was still warm and its eyes were closed. The children felt with their fingers for the quick beat of the bird's heart in its breast. But there was no heart beating. That was how they knew it was dead."

Following a western convention of burial the children decide the bury the small bird in the woods near the park and then they sing a sweet song, cry a few tears and lay flowers on the little grave. On a stone they write - here lies a bird that is dead.

"But they were glad they had found it, because now they could dig a grave in the woods and bury it. They could have a funeral and sing to it the way grown-up people did when someone died."

Margaret Wise Brown uses such beautiful words to describe the way the children prepare the little grave.

"They put warm sweet-ferns in the bottom of the grave. And they wrapped the bird in grapevine leaves. ... they put more ferns on top of it, and little white violets, and yellow star flowers."

Margaret Wise Brown (1910-1952) wrote this book in 1938 - yes that is 85 years ago. But it was not published until after her death. This story was never published during her lifetime because the subject matter was considered too dark, but she always advocated for it to be released. The 1958 version was illustrated by Remy Charlip.  In 2016 Christian Robinson added his own very special illustrations. In 2016 a local bookshop opened in a suburb near my home and in 2016 they added this book to their shop shelves. In June 2023 this terrific little local bookshop closed. As you would expect they had a wonderful book sale over the final days so I headed over to snag a few bargains. After waiting seven years The Dead Bird, which had sat on the shop shelves all that time, has now found a new home (with me). I know all of this because the price sticker lists the date the book came to the store - 26th August, 2016.

I read that Margaret Wise Brown wrote this book based on the ideas of something called 'The Here and Now' movement but I have not been able to discover more about this which I assume was something from the 1930s in the US and I did read it aimed to celebrate ordinary moments in life.

In this post at Seven Impossible things before Breakfast you can read about all the decisions Christian Robinson had to make for the cover and illustrations for this book. In this post based on her podcast Betsy Bird compares the 1958 version of The Dead Bird with the newer one illustrated by Christian Robinson. 

In the US there are some very harsh decisions being made about banning children's books. I do hope this does not happen here in Australia. I would not hesitate to add this book to a school or public library collection. I wonder why it languished in the bookshop for so long - the cover is appealing - so perhaps the issue was the word 'dead' on the cover especially since it is black and in capital letters. You can see inside this book here. 

This is such an honest book about death and grief. It captures that intense wave of sorrow upon finding a dead animal, the immediate connection children have to that creature and the importance of following through in a process of loss. The writing is superb, capturing these complex feelings but also not endowing them with too much weight. There is also a feeling of time passing and life moving on, even though the sadness was so large at first. Waking Brain Cells

Please think about this review comment - it is one I heartily endorse and so does my friend from Kinderbookswitheverything:

While generations of parents have discovered this book during a period of loss we think the book is best introduced in the normal rotation of stories as a wonderful way to help children start to think about the deep mystery that is life.

Companion books:

Fox: A circle of life story

A Last Goodbye

The bear and the wild cat

Twenty Questions by Mac Barnett illustrated by Christian Robinson

Publisher blurb: Not all questions have answers. Some have more than one answer. And others have endless answers, unfolding out to the edges of the world. In this spare yet expansive narrative, acclaimed author Mac Barnett poses twenty questions, both playful and profound. Some make us giggle. Others challenge our assumptions. The result is a quirky, wandering exploration of where the best questions lead—to stories. Intriguing, richly interactive, and brought to vivid life by Caldecott Honor recipient Christian Robinson’s bright and whimsical illustrations, Twenty Questions is a charming invitation to speculate without limits and know no bounds.

This book is puzzling and fun. I saw Colby Sharp talking about it earlier this year and he said this book only really came to life when it was shared with his class. I sure do wish I could do this too.

The questions make more sense when you see the wonderful illustrations by Christian Robinson but here are a few to give you a flavour of this book which I think should be added to all school library collections:

Which of these ladies just robbed a bank?

What is the boy hiding behind his back?

Where did the bandits bury the treasure?

Who gave Mr Beckett a bump on his noggin?

What did the lion get the lamb for her birthday?

I adore the end papers too.

Here is an interview with Mac Barnett and Christian Robinson where they talk about their book. You can either listen or read the transcript. And they talk about it here too. 

Each spread creates its own world, inviting readers to discuss—either orally or in writing—their own answers. A humorous vein runs through the book, but other emotions are also evoked, including poignancy. ... Quirky entertainment to jump-start creativity. Kirkus

There are no wrong answers. Each question is expressed in playful terms with amusing illustrations but the whole concept is thought provoking and, for older children, challenging. Reading Time

Twenty Questions is hilarious and whimsical and delightful. It’s a genius concept and it’s flawlessly executed. It’s basically a list of open-ended questions for children to answer - and I mean really open-ended. One page basically says “how many animals can you not see in this picture.” A big part of the humor is how there’s obviously no correct answer, and kids will undoubtedly love to play along anyhow. It’s very original and a lot of fun. Dad Suggests

Milo Imagines the World by Matt de la Peña illustrated by Christian Robinson

"These monthly train rides are never ending, and as usual, Milo is a shook-up soda. Excitement stacked on top of worry, on top of confusion, on top of love."

Milo and his sister are on the subway train in New York City. To pass the time Milo draws sketches in his drawing book. He observes the people who board the train and then draws imaginary scenes which show where each of these people might be going. The business man who is working on a crossword puzzle might be heading home to his fifth floor apartment where his only friends are his cats, some resident rats and his cage of parakeets. Next on board is a young boy in a suit. His hair is neat and his shoes are bright white. Perhaps this boy is a prince heading home to his castle where the butler waits with a plate of "crust-free sandwich squares". A bride steps onto the train. Milo draws her wedding scene in the cathedral and then he imagines the happy couple flying away in a hot air balloon. 

Milo and his sister finally reach their destination. Milo is amazed to see the boy in the suit in the same line. Where are they?

Milo's "even more surprised when the boy joins the long line to pass through the metal detector".

Mum is wearing an orange jump suit. A few pages back we that mum reads Milo bedtime stories over the phone. Near the beginning of this book we read Milo and his sister make this trip each month. 

This book is clearly set in New York City. This is especially evident when a group of break dances jump into the train carriage. People like this are called pan handlers. They ride the train for a stop or two then, after passing around their hat, they jump off the train and board another one. At the same time this is a universal story of hope and family. You might be thinking not many of the children in our classes or library groups would have a parent in jail but my former school was in a town with a maximum security jail and so this is a book which some of those children would certainly relate to.  And for other children this book provides a gentle way to discuss the lives of children who live in very different circumstances. 

Christian Robinson lived with his grandmother as a child because for most of his childhood his mother was in jail. "As a kid, of course, not having my my mother there was painful, certainly, but probably even more painful thing was holding on to that experience myself and internalising it and feeling disconnected, not having that connection with others. So I think this book has the potential to be healing, to create conversations, to create empathy and compassion."

There is also the important message in this book about the way we do judge people by their appearance. Milo discovers this is not necessarily true and his innocent assumptions about the people on the train may need to be revised. We are lucky to see his new ideas as he fills his drawing book with a new set of pictures.

"Maybe you can't really know anyone just by looking at their face".

Take a few minutes to listen Matt and Christian talking about their very personal connections with the story in this book. Here is the trailer from Penguin Kids. You can see art from this book at Seven Impossible Things before Breakfast. 

This book is:

Smart and sweet - School Library Journal

A memorable, thought-provoking story poised to make a difference for many. Kirkus Star review

This is the book that I continue to think about long after I’ve put it down or read it to my kids. School Library Journal There are three bonus videos on this site too. 

This poignant, thought-provoking story speaks volumes for how art can shift one’s perspectives and enable an imaginative alternative to what is…or seems to be. Horn Book

... this sweet but never saccharine story is a classic in the making. BookPage

In this post I have revealed Milo's destination but I am so happy the back cover blurb does not give away the 'secret' in this book.  Milo Imagines the World is also on the 2022 shortlist for the Kate Greenaway Medal.

This is the third book in a series by Matt de la Peña and Christian Robinson:

Carmen full of Wishes

You could compare this book with I am the Subway by Kim Hyo-eun.  With a group of older students you could also look at this wordless book from Canada:

Just in case You want to Fly by Julie Fogliano illustrated by Christian Robinson

Just in case you want to fly

here's some wind and here's the sky

There is some lovely advice for a young child in this book. My favourite page is the honey for your tea.

Image Source: Book Read Aloud for Kids!

In this book we have the wonderful pairing of poetic language by Julie Fogliano matched with bold illustrations by Christian Robinson all presented on a large white background. I was so lucky to hear Christian Robinson speak at the USBBY Conference in Austin, Texas in 2019. He has such an impressive body of work. Students of book design should begin with this book. The text is placed so carefully on each page, there are pages with multiple images, pages which spread across the whole double spread and some that are placed on one side of the double spread with the text placed opposite and two pages are designed with a different background. The quilt on the last page works as a memory of all that has gone before.

I would gift this book to a young child starting school; a Grade Six student about to head to High School; or even a University graduate.

In this video Julie and Christian talk about Just in case You want to Fly.

It’s a book full of delights and wonders. Waking Brain Cells

A tender, contemplative picture book about growing up and parents giving their children the gifts – no matter how quiet or small – to succeed and navigate the world on their own. Skylight books

Leo a ghost story by Mac Barnett illustrated by Christian Robinson

Today a big box of new books arrived in our school library. This is one of the joys and privileges of my job!  I grabbed a handful and sat down to read and read starting a long time after school had finished and leaving school in the dark.

Leo a ghost story made me gasp with delight.  I do have a particular love for books about imaginary friends - I know Leo is a ghost but he is also a friend and for a short time he does take on the role of an imaginary friend.

Leo has had a happy life living in an empty house "reading books and drawing picture in the dust." One day a new family move into his house.  Leo makes a gesture of friendship.  "He made them mint tea and honey toast.  Leo thought he was being a good host."  The family cannot see Leo and panic. There is a ghost in their new house.  They hide in the bathroom and the little boy says "I hate ghosts!"  Leo knows it is time to leave. He wanders the streets and he sees a city that is both familiar and strange, noisy and wonderful.  As he wanders along he meets little girl drawing with chalk on the sidewalk.  At this point you should stop and look at the end papers which are filled with Jane's drawings.  Jane says hello to Leo and he is amazed.  He is so happy to be seen and he joins her imaginative games with gusto.  Jane has a collection of imaginary friends - Sir Ruffs, a loyal dog, Sir Mews, a loyal cat and Sir Squawks.  

One of the most magical moments in this book comes when Jane says to Leo:

"Don't tell Sir Ruffs ... but you are my best imaginary friend."

The problem is Leo is not an imaginary friend.  He is a ghost.  How can he tell Jane?  Will she reject him when she knows the truth?

If you have a dust jacket copy of the book look at the cover underneath - there is a drawing of the coat of arms designed by Leo as a gift for Jane.  After all they have had a wonderful evening playing knights and dragons.

I am a huge fan of Mac Barnett.  Billy Twitters and his blue whale problem is a firm favourite of mine. Mac Barnett has listed some review comments for Leo a ghost story on his web site.  I also loved sharing Extra Yarn with our classes last year when we explored a mini theme about knitting.

A whimsical tale from Barnett aptly accompanied by enthralling artwork by Robinson. 

What’s not to drool over?

Together, words and pictures construct a whimsical, delightful story that deeply respects the child. And in Jane, they create a brilliant heroine whose powers lie within her wit, 

her open mind, and her freedom of play.