Wednesday, December 17, 2014

Shh! We Have A Plan

Booklist (October 15, 2014 (Online))
Preschool-Grade 1. Four friends are quietly trundling through a dusky grove when they spot a radiant bird in the distance. “Hi, birdie,” says the smallest, but the three bigger friends, all wielding nets, have other ideas. They shush the fourth and silently sneak over, but they’re thwarted at the last minute when the bird flies away. It happens again and again, but the smallest guy—all eyes, hat, and limbs—takes a different approach and offers his flighty new friend some bread. Then another bird arrives, and another, and soon the gloaming is full of brilliantly bright birds. It’s a dream come true, until the friends are outnumbered and the birds seek out some well-earned revenge on their would-be captors. Haughton’s stylish digital illustrations in chunky patches of color make masterful use of hue and contrast—the jazzy warm-toned birds are vibrant when set against the crepuscular blues of the friends and the woods. With only a few words total, a repeated refrain, and a visually unmistakable plot, this is a great choice for emergent readers or a group storytime.

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