Review - Birdsong

Birdsong
by Julie Flett
Date: 2019
Publisher: Greystone Books
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 48
Format: e-book
Source: library

A tender, luminous portrait of art, nature, and connecting across generations.

When a young girl moves from the country to a small town, she feels lonely and out of place. But soon she meets an elderly woman next door, who shares her love of arts and crafts. Can the girl navigate the changing seasons and failing health of her new friend? Acclaimed author and artist Julie Flett’s textured images of birds, flowers, art, and landscapes bring vibrancy and warmth to this powerful story, which highlights the fulfillment of intergenerational relationships and shared passions.

A brief glossary and pronunciation guide to Cree-Métis words that appear in the text is provided on the copyright page.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This is a lovely little picture book that spans the seasons and shows an intergenerational friendship between a little girl and her elderly neighbour.

I'm already a fan of Flett's artwork, having encountered it in My Heart Fills With Happiness, Little You, and We Sang You Home, all of which were written by others. As illustrator and author, Flett takes us on a little journey through the year, showing Katherena and Agnes's friendship develop through the simplest things. Agnes eventually gets ill and weak, but this is handled in a kid-friendly way that leaves the ending open to interpretation.

The illustrations here are lovely, and nicely portray the seasons. If you're already a fan of Flett's style, you'll find plenty to like here.

Overall, this is a lovely look at an intergenerational friendship. I'd recommend it to fans of Flett's work, as well as to those who are searching for books about friendships between children and seniors.

Quotable moment:

Premise: 4/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 4/5
Illustrations: 4/5
Originality: 4/5

Enjoyment: 4/5

Overall: 4 out of 5