The Dead Bird [Hardcover]

ANew York TimesBest Illustrated Book

This heartwarming classic picture book by beloved children’s book author Margaret Wise Brown is gorgeously reillustrated for a contemporary audience by the critically acclaimed, award-winning illustrator Christian Robinson.

One day, the children find a bird lying on its side with its eyes closed and no heartbeat. They are very sorry, so they decide to say good-bye. In the park, they dig a hole for the bird and cover it with warm sweet-ferns and flowers. Finally, they sing sweet songs to send the little bird on its way.

A beautiful book to share with children beginning to grapple with loss.

Robinson stays true to the intent of the original text and illustrations but elegantly improves upon it with cinematic storytelling.Brown takes a direct approach to a difficult subject, suggesting how community rituals provide solace. Robinson concludes with a wide-angle view of growing trees and the children flying a kite, implying a return to carefree fun and putting a poignant distance between the tiny figures and readers.Robinsons sensitive new mixed-media art, with its personality-rich quartet of young people&and its city-park setting, elicits the childrens deeply felt emotions and their actions to honor the birds memory.The original text is timeless, and the modern, cheerful illustrations will help resurrect this classic for a new generation of readers.Robinson thoughtfully pays homage to his predecessor while bringing something new to the telling...a lovely book befitting its lineage.