SUBSCRIBE
SUBSCRIBE
SLJ Blog Network +
  • 100 Scope Notes
  • A Fuse #8 Production
  • Good Comics for Kids
  • Heavy Medal: A Mock Newbery Blog
  • Teen Librarian Toolbox
  • The Classroom Bookshelf
  • The Yarn
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About/Contact
  • Fusenews
  • Reviews
  • Librarian Previews
  • Best Books
    • Top 100
    • Best Books of 2022
    • Best Books of 2021
    • Best Books of 2020
    • Best Books of 2019
    • Best Books of 2018
    • Best Books of 2017
    • Best Books of 2016
    • Best Books of 2015
    • Best Books of 2014
    • Best Books of 2013
  • Fuse 8 n’ Kate
  • Videos
  • Press Release Fun

June 4, 2013 by Betsy Bird

Review of the Day: A Funny Little Bird by Jennifer Yerkes

June 4, 2013 by Betsy Bird   6 comments

A Funny Little Bird
By Jennifer Yerkes
Sourcebooks Jabberwocky (an imprint of Sourcebooks, Inc.)
$15.99
ISBN: 978-1-4022-8013-9
Ages 3-7
On shelves now

When I was a kid I tried to learn how to draw by reading Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain. A lot of the book was dedicated to showing your average layman how to draw by concentrating on drawing the negative spaces between the object you wanted to render and its environment. I haven’t thought about that book in a very long time and probably could have continued on my merry way without it, had it not been for my stumbling on A Funny Little Bird by Jennifer Yerkes. A sweet story with a sublimely subtle but infinitely clever premise and ending, this is a tale about adaptation, camouflage, acceptance, pride, and standing out by blending in. It’s a metaphor for introverts and the unsung heroes in our lives. Strange and lovely all at once, here’s one book that turns simplicity into an art.

For you see there once was a funny little bird that seemed to disappear into the background wherever it went. When it was invisible to the eye, it was lonely. When it was noticed, it was teased. One day, in a fit of pique, the bird sets out to find its own path. Along the way it collects all the beautiful things it can find, building itself up, puffing itself up with pride. When a clever fox tries to take advantage of the bird’s new one-of-a-kind look, the bird realizes the advantage of invisibility. It isn’t just that it can hide from dangers. It can help others hide as well. This is a bird with a calling.

SCROLL TO KEEP READING THIS POST

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

The book was an Opera Prima finalist in the Bologna Book Fair Ragazzi Award 2012. Originally published in France as Drole d’oiseau, this is a title that understands the importance of minimalism in children’s literature. In terms of the storyline itself, the trick to Yerkes’s art is in making absence tangible. The bird itself is only suggested by the hint of a wing here, and eye and beak there, and maybe two legs (if it’s walking). The end result is that there can be as much fun in locating the bird as there is in reading its story.

Part of what makes the book so interesting is that it could be read in two entirely opposite ways. On the one hand you could think of it as a conformity tale. The bird isn’t noticed as unique so it gets some awesome feathers in the hope that it won’t be teased or ignored anymore and learns that standing out can make you a target. That’s one way to read the story. The other way is to say that the book is anti-conformity. The bird stands out and then tries to be like all the other birds by grabbing some feathers, only to find that by being near invisible its unique talents give it an edge. Naturally when I think of picture books about fitting in I think (for good or for evil) of Marcus Pfister’s Rainbow Fish. Unlike that book, however, fitting in isn’t the ultimate goal and neither is standing out. Being true to yourself is the storyline here, and as such it’s kind of an anti-Rainbow Fish.

Your standard Ugly Duckling storyline is where a creature locates another of its kind and finds solace that way. Then there are the books where an outsider finds a community of fellow outsiders. But what makes A Funny Little Bird so unique, in a way, is that it doesn’t follow any of these set formulas. If our hero finds peace of mind it’s by single-handedly coming to a kind of peace within himself. He doesn’t rely on others to give him that approbation or acceptance. Maybe that’s why I like this so much more than your average rebel picture book fare. It actually contains fairly practical advice for living in the world. Use the strengths you have, even if they seemingly put you at a disadvantage.

As a child, I strived to attain invisibility. I did everything within my power to hide myself from the eyes of my peers, often with remarkable success. Happily, I don’t feel I really missed out on much as a result. But in my younger days, it might have been nice to read about a creature that could successfully blend in with its surroundings. Maybe I would have found a kindred spirit of some kind. At the very least I would have found a book worth owning and loving. Justifiably a hit overseas, one can hope that A Funny Little Bird will find its own audience of shrinking violets here in the States. Beautiful with a wit of its own, Yerkes shows that you don’t have to be flashy to be remarkable.

On shelves now.

Source: Final copy sent from publisher for review.

Like This? Then Try:

  • Blue Chameleon by Emily Gravett
  • Looking for Henry by Elaine Livermore
  • I Am So Handsome by Mario Ramos

Blog Reviews:

  • Teach Mentor Texts
  • Wrapped in Foil
  • Candace’s Book Blog
  • Cozy Little Book Journal

Professional Reviews:

  • A star from Kirkus
  • Publishers Weekly

Other Reviews: Shelf Awareness

Misc: Download the activity kit here.

Filed under: Reviews, Reviews 2013

SHARE:

Read or Leave Comments
2013 picture books2013 reviewsFrench children's booksFrench picture booksJabberwockyJennier Yerkesnegative spacepicture booksSourcebookstranslated picture books

About Betsy Bird

Betsy Bird is currently the Collection Development Manager of the Evanston Public Library system and a former Materials Specialist for New York Public Library. She has served on Newbery, written for Horn Book, and has done other lovely little things that she'd love to tell you about but that she's sure you'd find more interesting to hear of in person. Her opinions are her own and do not reflect those of EPL, SLJ, or any of the other acronyms you might be able to name. Follow her on Twitter: @fuseeight.

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Posts

January 2014

Review of the Day: Mr. Tiger Goes Wild by Peter Brown

by Betsy Bird

January 2014

Review of the Day: Journey by Aaron Becker

by Betsy Bird

January 2014

Review of the Day: The Other Side of Free by Krista Russell

by Betsy Bird

December 2013

Review of the Day: Wild by Emily Hughes

by Betsy Bird

December 2013

Review of the Day: The Silver Six by AJ Lieberman

by Betsy Bird

ADVERTISEMENT

SLJ Blog Network

100 Scope Notes

2023 Caldecott Jump

by Travis Jonker

A Fuse #8 Production

Cover Reveal: This Book Is Banned – The Latest from Raj Haldar (With a Helpful Q&A for Spice)

by Betsy Bird

Good Comics for Kids

Ben Mortara and the Thieves of the Golden Table | This Week’s Comics

by Lori Henderson

Heavy Medal

March suggestions: early Mock Newbery possibilities

by Emily Mroczek-Bayci

Teen Librarian Toolbox

Love, Family, and Mental Health, a guest post by Rajani LaRocca

by Amanda MacGregor

The Classroom Bookshelf

The Classroom Bookshelf is Moving

by Erika Thulin Dawes

The Yarn

Newbery Medalist Amina Luqman-Dawson visits The Yarn

by Colby Sharp

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Articles on SLJ

2020 All Star Read-Alikes: Three YA Picks for Fans of 'On My Block' on Netflix

8 Podcasts About Civics and U.S. History | Kidcasts

47 Titles Not to Miss, Including Music and the Latest by Raúl the Third & Karen M. McManus| Starred Reviews, September 2022

10 Children's Music CDs to Enhance Collections

15 Videos To Help Bring Classroom Lessons to Life

About Betsy Bird

Betsy Bird is currently the Collection Development Manager of the Evanston Public Library system and a former Materials Specialist for New York Public Library. She has served on Newbery, written for Horn Book, and has done other lovely little things that she'd love to tell you about but that she's sure you'd find more interesting to hear of in person. Her opinions are her own and do not reflect those of EPL, SLJ, or any of the other acronyms you might be able to name. Follow her on Twitter: @fuseeight.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Karen Maurer says

    June 4, 2013 at 11:08 am

    I saw this book in a bookstore and my reaction was to the art of the illustrations. I appreciate the thought that you put into analyzing what the book could mean to a young reader/looker/listener. But the idea of white space as an art form – that is awesome, too. Aren’t picture books wonderful?

    • Elizabeth Bird says

      June 4, 2013 at 3:45 pm

      They really sort of rock. In fact, I was wracking my brain to come up with another book that works with white space in this way. The kicker is that I know they exist I’m just not thinking of them. Anyone have any suggestions out there?

      • Carter Higgins says

        June 5, 2013 at 1:29 pm

        An old favorite, and I just blogged about it last week: ROUND TRIP by Ann Jonas from 1983. Checked the heck out of that thing in elementary school. Might explain some things…

        David Macauley’s Caldecott-winning BLACK AND WHITE does some great things with negative space, too. Early 90s? So glad to see this one.

        • Elizabeth Bird says

          June 5, 2013 at 2:07 pm

          Oh, good call with both the Jonas and the Macaulay. Love both those book. I feel like Round Trip never got its due too. Team Round Trip, that’s me.

  2. Carter Higgins says

    June 5, 2013 at 7:06 pm

    Me too! Team Round Trip. Let’s make tshirts.

    • Elizabeth Bird says

      June 5, 2013 at 8:37 pm

      Dibs on the white and black one. That would leave the black and white one for you.

ADVERTISEMENT

Archives

  • External Links

    • A Fuse #8 Production Reviews
  • Follow This Blog

    Enter your email address below to receive notifications of new blog posts by email.

    This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

    This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

    Primary Sidebar

    • News & Features
    • Reviews+
    • Technology
    • School Libraries
    • Public Libraries
    • Age Level
    • Ideas
    • Blogs
    • Classroom
    • Diversity
    • People
    • Job Zone

    Reviews+

    • Book Lists
    • Best Books
    • Media
    • Reference
    • Series Made Simple
    • Tech
    • Review for SLJ
    • Review Submissions

    SLJ Blog Network

    • 100 Scope Notes
    • A Fuse #8 Production
    • Good Comics for Kids
    • Heavy Medal
    • Neverending Search
    • Teen Librarian Toolbox
    • The Classroom Bookshelf
    • The Yarn

    Resources

    • 2022 Youth Media Awards
    • The Newbery at 100: SLJ Celebrates the 100th Anniversary of the Award
    • Special Report | School Libraries 2021
    • Summer Reading 2021
    • Series Made Simple Spring 2021
    • SLJ Diverse Books Survey
    • Summer Programming Survey
    • Research
    • White Papers / Case Studies
    • School Librarian of the Year
    • Mathical Book Prize Collection Development Awards
    • Librarian/Teacher Collaboration Award

    Events & PD

    • In-Person Events
    • Online Courses
    • Virtual Events
    • Webcasts
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Subscribe
    • Media Inquiries
    • Newsletter Sign Up
    • Content Submissions
    • Data Privacy
    • Terms of Use
    • Terms of Sale
    • FAQs
    • Diversity Policy
    • Careers at MSI


    COPYRIGHT © 2023


    COPYRIGHT © 2023