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Little Bird

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Celebrated Newbery Medalist Cynthia Voigt introduces Little Bird, a tiny crow with a big imagination and an even bigger heart, in this timeless read-alone and read-aloud just right for the young middle grade audience. Little Bird features black-and-white illustrations by Newbery Medalist Lynne Rae Perkins throughout.

When a wild fisher cat attacks their nest, Little Bird and her flock are devastated. Not only does the fisher cat harm the fledglings, but it also makes off with the shiny pendant that the superstitious crows rely on for good luck. Little Bird believes that she can find the lucky pendant and return it to the nest before disaster strikes. The other crows aren’t so sure—after all, Little Bird is so little and undependable and meek.

But with the help of some new friends—including a very funny goat—Little Bird journeys through forests and over lakes and fields, challenging her wits and survival skills along the way. The crow who returns home is wiser, braver, kinder, and ready—at last—to spread her wings.

Newbery Medalist Cynthia Voigt’s gentle humor, sense of fun and adventure, and delightful main character sing off the page in this timely short novel about bravery and friendship, illustrated by Newbery Medalist Lynne Rae Perkins. A page-turning read-aloud for families and classrooms, and a terrific book for fans of Nuts to You, by Lynne Rae Perkins, and Avi’s Poppy books.

336 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 15, 2020

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About the author

Cynthia Voigt

79 books989 followers
Cynthia Voigt is an American author of books for young adults dealing with various topics such as adventure, mystery, racism and child abuse.


Awards:
Angus and Sadie: the Sequoyah Book Award (given by readers in Oklahoma), 2008
The Katahdin Award, for lifetime achievement, 2003
The Anne V. Zarrow Award, for lifetime achievement, 2003
The Margaret Edwards Award, for a body of work, 1995
Jackaroo: Rattenfanger-Literatur Preis (ratcatcher prize, awarded by the town of Hamlin in Germany), 1990
Izzy, Willy-Nilly: the Young Reader Award (California), 1990
The Runner: Deutscher Jungenliteraturpreis (German young people's literature prize), 1988
Zilverengriffel (Silver Pen, a Dutch prize), 1988
Come a Stranger: the Judy Lopez Medal (given by readers in California), 1987
A Solitary Blue: a Newbery Honor Book, 1984
The Callender Papers: The Edgar (given by the Mystery Writers of America), 1984
Dicey's Song: the Newbery Medal, 1983

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5 stars
24 (20%)
4 stars
47 (39%)
3 stars
36 (30%)
2 stars
8 (6%)
1 star
4 (3%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
Profile Image for Darla.
4,096 reviews955 followers
February 1, 2021
For a small crow, Little Bird has some really big adventures. What I loved about this book was her ability to listen to other animals and to think outside the box of her original little flock. She is also a determined little thing -- on mission to return 'Our Luck' to the nest for the good of her crow family. Little Bird learns and grows throughout and makes a whole bunch of new friends, even discovering the treachery of the jays and the unexpected kindness of the people on the closest farm. The many crow names --all starting with the letter 'K'-- was a bit distracting. Would also have liked to have a greater story line for the people as in 'Charlotte's Web.' Loved, loved, loved the illustrations! Perfect for fans of 'Pax' and 'A Wolf Called Wander.'
Profile Image for Sarah .
77 reviews39 followers
July 4, 2021
I wondered if it would still feel like a Voigt novel, even through the point of view of a bird. Of course it did! This was a coming-of-age story full of wit and wisdom! Little Bird listened to the various members of her community, gleaning what she could, trusting only the wisest, and ultimately coming to her own conclusions about things. Might as well have been Dicey Tillerman telling the story.

I love Cynthia Voigt forever. I'll seek out the others in this series!
Profile Image for Josh.
46 reviews1 follower
March 4, 2022
This was our family read the past month. Our 8 year old hung with the narrative, but our 6 year old got a little bored at times. I personally enjoyed it, and closed the book with a heightened interest and fascination with crows flying around the neighborhood.
Profile Image for April Gray.
1,366 reviews8 followers
January 4, 2021
A sweet, adventurous story about a little crow trying to retrieve her flock's treasure that was stolen by a fisher (an animal in the weasel family). Without getting too heavily into events, a fisher steals the flock's good luck charm, a gold chain with a pearl pendant. When no one else is able to try and get it back, Little Bird, the only crow in the flock that can be spared takes it upon herself to try. Along the way, she meets many animals, both domesticated and wild, that offer assistance, and she makes a few friends. The dialog and action is a little repetitive at the start of the book, but moves along more smoothly later on. Little Bird gains confidence and becomes more aware of what she has to offer along the way, and gains new friends as well. The illustrations are adorable, and add interest for younger readers (or middle-aged ladies who like kids books!). Perfect for readers who love animals stories!

#LittleBird #NetGalley
Profile Image for Katie.
669 reviews3 followers
July 29, 2020
"I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."
I was excited to read this book because I have enjoyed her other work previously. I like her personification of the animals, and how the characters, especially Little Bird, were developed. This is an excellent middle grade or read aloud chapter book.
Profile Image for Jasen.
341 reviews
July 28, 2023
My son loves it more than I did. I think he connected with the critters. My main beef was the language and diction; it was hard to read aloud and I felt lost in some sentence and not in a good way. The Eyes and the Impossible had a similar flow but was much more well written & a joy to read aloud.

“Little Bird had too much good sense to think she had flown above the clouds, but it took her so long to wonder if those not-clouds might be sheep that she had created the next hill before she figure it out.” P.124

“She wished she had never known anything about humans and turkeys and raccoons. That was not possible, of course; no bird could fly backward through a day even if--for only a little time--Little Bird pretended she was.” P.228

“It was--it was perfect, to fly like that,” she remembered. “It was--better than anything.” She was thinking over everywhere she’d been. “Every place I know has sad and dangerous things in it.” P.314

“Because you’re a bird, and a crow, too. That means you can go wherever you choose. You just need to choose. In fact, you have to choose. But you get to choose, and most animals don’t. I never did,” Brutus said. He chewed and thought. Little Bird watched, and waited. She had learned that Brutus would have more to say, when he chewed and thought.” P.315

“You didn’t get to see so many new things, and have so many good and bad things happen, and stay the same. Even Our Luck hasn’t come back the same, little bird thought. It had come back Their Luck, and that made her laugh quietly to herself, ke-ke-ke, as she slept into sleep.” P.329
Profile Image for Christine Turner.
3,560 reviews51 followers
Read
December 21, 2020
Celebrated Newbery Medalist Cynthia Voigt introduces Little Bird, a tiny crow with a big imagination and an even bigger heart, in this timeless read-alone and read-aloud just right for the young middle grade audience. Little Bird features black-and-white illustrations by Newbery Medalist Lynne Rae Perkins throughout.

When a wild fisher cat attacks their nest, Little Bird and her flock are devastated. Not only does the fisher cat harm the fledglings, but it also makes off with the shiny pendant that the superstitious crows rely on for good luck. Little Bird believes that she can find the lucky pendant and return it to the nest before disaster strikes. The other crows aren't so sure--after all, Little Bird is so little and undependable and meek.

But with the help of some new friends--including a very funny goat--Little Bird journeys through forests and over lakes and fields, challenging her wits and survival skills along the way. The crow who returns home is wiser, braver, kinder, and ready--at last--to spread her wings.

Newbery Medalist Cynthia Voigt's gentle humor, sense of fun and adventure, and delightful main character sing off the page in this timely short novel about bravery and friendship, illustrated by Newbery Medalist Lynne Rae Perkins. A page-turning read-aloud for families and classrooms, and a terrific book for fans of Nuts to You, by Lynne Rae Perkins, and Avi's Poppy books.
Profile Image for Stephanie Bange.
1,710 reviews16 followers
July 21, 2021
"What's the point of knowing things if all you can do is know them?" (p.311) - Little Bird

From her point of view, curious Little Bird is underappreciated by the other crows in her world. The smallest bird in her world, she is given the menial tasks that no one else wants to do. After a fisher attacks the nest and results in the loss of Our Luck (a lucky charm woven into the nest), Little Bird sets out on a quest to find it and return it home. In the process, her world is forever changed.

Voigt weaves a story of self-discovery that is slowly, carefully crafted. There is a casual, old-fashioned feel to the writing, making it very comfortable to read. While some readers may find the story slow and plodding in parts, others will relish the beautiful pictures Voigt paints with words and find it very satisfying. Seeing things from Little Bird's perspective creates a guessing game of sorts, as they realize exactly what Little Bird is seeing/experiencing (ex. the Sickness, the Longstick, a PB&J sandwich, gunfire, trauma, Missus washing dishes).

Black & White illustrations rendered in pastels(?) by Newbery Medal winner Lynn Rae Perkins give just enough detail to keep younger readers going and open up the book so it is not quite so dense.

Not everyone's cup of tea, this will be best enjoyed by lovers of books like Charlotte's Web and Wind in the Willows and should make a delightful bedtime readaloud.

Recommended, Special Readers, 4-6
170 reviews
September 26, 2020
In Cynthia Voigt’s MG book Little Bird, when a fisher attacks a crow’s nest and makes off with the trinket known as “Our Luck,” the least of the crows, Little Bird, sets off on a quest to retrieve it. On her way, she discovers her gift of understanding the other animals isn’t universal. Despite this, she manages to (mostly) communicate with other (squirrels, turkeys, a goat, raccoons) as she learns more about the wider world, about other creatures, about herself, and even about “Our Luck.”

I struggled more than a little with the first quarter to third of Little Bird. The book often felt repetitive, the voice forced, the narrative trying just a little too hard to “talk” to young kids. Things began to pick up though once Little Bird headed off into wholly unfamiliar territory, and the story felt more streamlined. The latter part of the novel is also when Little Bird and other creatures begin to share their (skewed) analysis of humanity, which offers up scenes that are humorous in one moment and far more grim in another. Voigt’s protagonist begins to wrestle with some darker issues and revelations, which adds some more adult depth to the story, but may give some pause to parents of younger readers, particularly a moment of gun violence which traumatizes Little Bird for a while. It’s a tough go at the start, but well worth pushing on.
Profile Image for Hayley DeRoche.
Author 1 book98 followers
June 1, 2021
I read this book aloud to my daughter and I'm going to be completely honest: it felt like long, slow torture. Was it the very similar crow names (Kaal, Kakaal, Kali, Kaga, with Little Bird being the exception), the very intentional use of bird-ish language (birdcagetrap, yarking instead of barking, Our Luck capitalized, The Sickness [rabies], etc), or the cyclical nature of the language itself (the same ideas go around and around in circles, like birds circling in the sky and characters are met and left without them reallllly being important to the story, ie Toaff, Brutus, etc). I think the artifice and particular peculiar ingredients of the book and what it was trying to do took over the actual plot itself, which left me feeling not very connected to Little Bird or her task. I love Voigt's other word (DICEY'S SONG was a high school favorite of mine, having lived on the eastern shore at the time) so I was heartbroken to suffer through this in this way! But by the fourth or fifth chapter I was miserable as the read-aloud-er, and still had an awful long slog ahead of me.
Profile Image for Pam Carlson.
340 reviews1 follower
March 10, 2021
Little Bird is the smallest crow in her flock, bossed around and disrespected by the leaders. After a fisher kills one of the fledglings and a precious possession known as Our Luck goes missing, Little Bird takes off on a quest to find the villain. As she searches, she discovers that she can speak to other animals. They don't always understand each other but she learns that there is more to the world than she ever imagined. She also discovers the joy of flying high and far. When she identifies the true thief, the excitement of finding Our Luck comes to a crashing halt when she tries to show it to her friend Brutus the goat. While she heals, Little Bird makes decisions about her future. The story is much too long. It also seems odd that Little Bird has never been given a proper crow name. Lessons to learn: don't be afraid to get out of your rut, turkeys are not very bright, and be careful who you trust.
Profile Image for Murray.
1,215 reviews19 followers
February 27, 2021
This anthropomorphic children's story is about Little Bird, a crow, whose only duty is to guard the fledglings, but things go wrong when the crows nest is attacked by a fisher and a shining braclet, the crows call "Our Luck" that was interwoven in the nest goes missing. Little Bird decides that to prove herself to the rest of the crows that she can be capable of more by finding the fisher and bringing back "Our Luck." The subplot becomes the over riding story as Little Bird finds out that the world is a bigger place and there are things to learn from everyone she meets on her journey and that you have to make your own path in life and not just follow the group. A charming story geared for 8-10 year olds who like stories like "Charlotte's Web" that is interspersed with black and white illustrations. A good bedtime or read-aloud book for families.
Profile Image for Ms. Sethi.
167 reviews
September 15, 2020
I was so excited to read a new Cynthia Voigt book! I've enjoyed her writing since childhood and this was a new twist. I also learned so much about crows, which I know many of my students (upper elementary) would enjoy as well. This story is so compelling and brings in themes of believing in yourself, friendship, communication, and more. It would bring so much to discussions with students as the themes are so rich and discussing animals' emotions and relationships is sometimes freeing for students as they can speak more openly than they do about humans as it feels less personal or immediate. Students would also love the bird's and animal's perspectives on humans, which would be a great hook for a reader who is still trying to find books that they like.
Profile Image for Cara.
361 reviews3 followers
March 19, 2021
Cynthia Voigt seems to be urgently trying to find a story form to teach anyone who will listen about self-reliance and the reality that we all have the ability to make choices. The world, life, is a dangerous and beautiful thing. Pain is an inevitable reality, but friends and the chance to keep learning makes it worth it.

The story of Little Bird is the animal kingdom allegory to other stories Ms. Voigt has told before. This would work well for children who are still young enough to be interested in animal stories, but can stay interested in a longer version without many pictures. This could be a great choice for an advanced reader that still needs subject matter that is appropriate for his or her age.
Profile Image for Megan.
281 reviews
January 25, 2022
Everett: thumbs up
“My favorite part was the turkeys. They were so silly!”

I did not care for this book, which I picked up solely based on the author’s reputation. It was poorly edited and about 100 pages too long for a children’s book. There were portions that were difficult to understand, even with a reread. The names for characters (Kakaawl, Kaarn, Kaal, Kali, Kado, Toaff- ugh, especially when reading aloud!) and things described in “bird language” were needlessly confusing (for instance, the cats’ names are Fox and Snake, but they also have human names—pointlessly misleading for children). The overall story was ok, but much too long.
Profile Image for Leigh.
422 reviews
July 20, 2020
I received this e-ARC from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This story follows little bird as she leaves her family to search for Our Luck. She feels that despite her being sent, they don't believe she will find it. She instead finds herself along the way.

This particular title didn't do a whole lot for me. Despite it being a relatively short book, there were several parts that seemed too long. I felt like it dragged, and found that I kept checking to see how much was left.
Profile Image for Michael Beyer.
Author 28 books3 followers
December 27, 2023
Cynthia Voigt is an award-winning author for a very good reason. The main character is a small female crow who is very intelligent and able to be such a good listener that she can understand crow speech, squirrel, jaybird, turkey, raccoon, dog, and even human speech. And some of them can understand her. She has to go on a quest to retrieve a crucial crow possession that was stolen by a predator. The quest opens up the world for Little Bird. And it demonstrates the author's skill as she opens up the world through a crow's eyes.
Profile Image for Hope Irvin Marston.
Author 35 books14 followers
January 30, 2021
According to the front matter the book is for ages 8-12. Talking animals and birds are intriguing to young readers. However, many of the sentences and the paragraphs are extremely long and the book has 319 pages. Though many of the words are of one syllable, I think young readers will chose a shorter book that's easier to hold and to read.

Hope Irvin Marston, award winning author of EYE ON THE IDITAROD: ASILING'S QUEST
Profile Image for Ramona.
1,009 reviews
November 16, 2021
This story had a lot of life lessons. Friendship and trusting others are important, but you must also be aware of the dangers. Know the people you want to be friends with. There are good and bad in all areas of life. Know your surroundings, knowledge is good. The main character, Little Bird, is a young crow. She is smart and wants to learn. Her adventures take her to many places and help her to grow in her knowledge of the world around her.
Profile Image for Wendy L. Scott-Hawkins.
Author 1 book21 followers
March 18, 2024
I read this book to see if it would be suitable for our library at school. It certainly passed my critiquing skills and I would comment that it’s a good clean book for all ages.
This is a cute little story with just enough drama and character development to make it satisfying. At first, it was a bit difficult to get used to the way the animals spoke to one another but before long I caught on. Good life lessons can be learned from Little Bird’s adventures making this a an excellent read.
20 reviews
June 4, 2020
This book is an adorably perfect story. I read it with my younger sibling and we loved it. The characters are so easy to connect to. It is perfect for young middle schoolers. It is an easy book to follow along to and read aloud making it great for bedtime. I really enjoyed reading this story and would definitely recommend it.
Profile Image for Lora.
280 reviews
November 2, 2020
My 4th and 1st grader loved this book about a small crow who goes on a journey of discovery and believes in herself, even when no one else does. It is about being open to learning about your world and engaging in others that are different from you to hear what they have to say, and taking chances to do what is right, even if everyone else says you can't. A great story!
Profile Image for Lori.
Author 2 books21 followers
January 3, 2021
This is a sweet book that was sent to me as an ARC (Advanced Readers Copy). It's the story of a small crow named Little Bird. Her comrades lost a shiny piece of jewelry that brought luck to the nest and it ended up missing. Little Bird is determined to find it.

I will definitely be adding this book to our library collection!
Profile Image for Meghan.
59 reviews102 followers
August 3, 2023
I loved Cynthia Voigt in my middle school years, so I was delighted to find this book in the bargain bin at the supermarket (of all places!). This is the first chapter book I’ve read to my four year old and we loved it. The prose is beautiful and the emotional and moral questions of the book are real.
Profile Image for Ginni.
382 reviews34 followers
July 21, 2020
3.5 stars

This gentle story about a bird figuring out how she fits in the world works because it doesn't shy away from the raw reality of animal life. Any time it's at risk of becoming saccharine, we're reminded that animals die, that animals eat other animals, and that some humans are kind, but others are not. The story itself is very simple, but somehow still surprising. It's always satisfying to see a hero accomplish the quest they set out on, but there's a certain wisdom in seeing the hero realize that the quest was never the right one to begin with.

The early edition I read only contained a few small illustrations, but they were charming and appropriate for the book.

(I received this book for free through a Goodreads giveaway.)
463 reviews1 follower
July 24, 2020
Little Bird (a black crow) leaves the roost on an adventure that takes him to different places and meets many animal and human creatures. He learns many lessons about life. An enjoyable read for young minds.
Profile Image for Allison Pickett.
430 reviews4 followers
October 11, 2020
Here’s my confession: I truly adore books where animals talk. I cannot help myself. Little Bird is a fun, sweet book with a challenging, deeper level. My kids would love for me to read this aloud for them, but I have also loved reading it all to myself.
Profile Image for Melissa.
994 reviews4 followers
April 12, 2021
I enjoy a sweet anthropomorphic tale every so often and this one did not disappoint. Little Bird is such a great mix of curious and brave and I liked meeting Brutus and Toaff and Sadie along the way. The emphasis on communication, understanding and honesty was really nice too.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews

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