Scary Bird by Michel Streich

Life is happy in the aviary until one day a strange bird arrives. "He looked SCARY!" 

In the opinion of the other birds this new fellow is very odd, his habits are strange, and he chirps in a different language which no one can understand - he needs to GO! 

Important wisdom comes from a small mouse who sneaks into the cage to take a little birdseed.

"Hey, birdbrains! Don't you know you're ALL exotic birds."

The birds don't listen to the mouse, "nobody listens to a mouse". One day a small bird ventures down from a higher branch to listen to the pretty song sung by "scary bird". It only takes one bird to make the move. Now the other birds join in and gradually the new arrival learns to chirp like the others albeit with an accent. He is able to talk about his home and share his customs and eventually he becomes accepted as one of the group. 

"But then some thing REALLY and TRULY SCARY happened."

Have you guessed - another new bird has arrived.

I am very wary of books with an 'agenda' or a didactic message but if a book contains some wisdom which is conveyed skilfully through a clever story then that will be a book I am really happy to promote and celebrate. You can probably tell I love Scary Bird.

In this video Michel Streich explains his illustration processes. Here is another one where Michel shows the stamps he used for the end papers.  This would be great to show to a Primary class because Michel demonstrates his drawing and shows his book as a sketched draft. Here is his website.

I would pair this book with:

The Suitcase

The Thing

Brian the Brave

I mentioned previously that I am reading Australian picture books published in 2020 with aim of identifying books which might make our CBCA Notables list. Surely Scary Bird will make the Early Childhood list of 12 notable titles.

Themes include diversity, acceptance, difference, respect, understanding, equality, tolerance, migration, culture, traditions, language, and uniqueness. Reading Time

A lively little book, Scary Bird puts diversity, adjustment and acceptance into an understandable parable for little listeners (though plenty of big listeners would also do well to pay attention to its message!) and it will sit well with other recent children’s books exploring similar themes.  Books and Publishing

It shows that anybody who looks or sounds different can be rejected, but is a story that will work to start conversations with children about refugees, racism, starting a new school, migration and many other topics where difference might be something people focus on negatively, and create a safe space to talk about how this makes children feel, and ways to prevent it.  The Book Muse

The day Saida arrived by Susana Gomez Redondo illustrated by Sonja Wimmer translated by Lawrence Schimel

Blurb: "The new girl, from Morocco, doesn't speak. She doesn't speak English, that is. But when her classmate welcomes the girl the share her native Arabic, the two forge a forever friendship while learning about the vast wonders in the world around them."

The narrator of this gentle story is determined to help her new friend Saida find her words and in turn the young English speaking girl will learn new words too such as these:

Blue 'azraq  أزرق

Butterfly farasha  فراشة 

Pelican baje  بجع 

Rainbow qus almatar   قوس المطر

Saedia (Saida) which means Happy  سعيدة

This is a book I would share with children aged 7+ but you could also use it with an older group. This text quote would make a terrific starting point for a discussion about words and communication and the power of language:

"And we knew that in all languages, there are words as warm as breath and others cold as metal. Words that bring us together, and words that separate. Words that cause hurt, words that awaken laughter. Words that tickle when they're spoken, and others that, when we hear them, feel like a hug."

Read some reviews of this book:

A joyous, lyrical text—including English translations and pronunciations and the complete Arabic alphabet—offers an accessible, fresh approach to talking about immigration.  The Ladybug Reads

A lyrical, playful book about immigration, respect, learning, and friendship across cultures. Kirkus

Drenched in emotion, Wimmer conjures up the emotions felt by Saida when she is unable to express herself. The illustrations are fantastical: the friends climb onto a hippopotamus, walk a clothesline as a high wire, and sail away on a hot air balloon. Butler's Pantry

Who are Blue Dot? "Blue Dot Kids Press inspires curiosity with beautifully crafted stories that connect us to each other and the planet we share. Written and illustrated by impassioned storytellers and artists from around the world, our books engage young readers’ innate sense of wonder and empathy, connecting them to our global community and the pale blue dot we call home."

Here is a video of Lawrence Schimel reading an extract from this book.

I would pair this book with Phileas's Fortune.

The small aventure of Popeye and Elvis by Barbara O'Connor

Think of Tom Sawyer with a small dash of  Pippi Longstocking and you have The small adventure of Popeye and Elvis.

I read this book in one sitting.  I picked up this book because I recently watched the movie of How to Steal a dog.  I was keen to read another story by Barbara O'Connor.  I am smiling right now because I am so happy I read this book - it is fabulous.

Popeye lives with grandmother Valma in South Carolina.  Life is dull and boring.

Popeye is so named because he has one good eye and one bad eye - the result of an accident back when he was three. Valma holds onto her fragile sanity by reciting the kings and queens of England in alphabetical order.  She has a lot to contend with.  Popeye's father lives far away, his mother comes and goes and her other son Dooley is unemployed and constantly in trouble with the law.

"Everyday the same
So what if the rain stopped? Popeye thought.
It would still be boring.
It would always be boring in Fayette, South Carolina.
Every day would always be the same.
Popeye was certain about that.
But Popeye was wrong."

One day a large motor home arrives.  It has become bogged in the gloppy red mud and the giant wheels are sunk deep down.

Life has been so dull for Popeye but now the adventures can begin because living in this motor home is the most amazing family including Elvis - the oldest boy.  Popeye and Elvis set out to find adventures.

Valma teaches Popeye a new word each week.  Barbara O'Connor uses these as a story device and she includes a dictionary definition as each word helps Popeye make sense of the excitement that comes from meeting this family and of making a new friend.

"Popeye couldn't help but notice how different Elvis was from all the others. 
Elvis was taciturn
taciturn: adjective; reserved or uncommunicative in speech, staying little
All the others were loquacious
loquacious: adjective; talkative."

There are so many delights in the language of this book.  I adore words like : bajillion, qualm, whoop and dang.

You can watch a brilliant trailer for this book on the author web site.  Here is a comprehensive set of teaching notes.  Here is a detailed review from the School Library Journal which is well worth reading.

There are boats in this book made from Yoo-Hoo milk cartons - see below. I have also included an alternate cover.  This book would be an excellent read-aloud for a middle primary class.