Lessons from Birds
Inspiration Books:
Little bird by Zullo, Germano — Enchanted Lion Books, 2012--E-; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 1.8
When a man releases a bunch of birds into the wild, one bird stays behind and he must convince it to fly.
AND
More by Springman, I. C — Houghton Mifflin Books for Children, 2012--E-; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 0.5. A team of well-intentioned mice saves a friend from hoarding too much stuff.
Rationale: While both books feature birds, neither book is about birds, but rather fables about humankind. As Sophie Blackall (illustrator and New York Times reviewer) says in her review of these books, "If More is a warning against hoarding treasure, Little Bird is an engaging invitation to embrace small, often over-looked treasures." The two books make perfect Wisdom Book treats and major topics of discussion with upper elementary, middle school, and, yes, even high school students for they are about the conduct of life. The back story for using picture books as Wisdom Books and a few directions may be found at a separate blog post “Wisdom Books.” I suggest several approaches there; here I add another, a thematic approach. The bird stories listed below could all be considered Wisdom Books, maybe calling the whole activity, “Life Has Not Gone to the Birds” or “Lessons from Birds.”
Related Books:
This plus that : life's little equations by Rosenthal, Amy Krouse — Harper, 2011. Dewey: -E-; Int Lvl: K-3. Colorful illustrations and arithmetical equations show things in life that can be added together, including how wishes and frosting equal a birthday, and how putting birds and buds together gives you spring.
Boy, Bird, and Dog by McPhail, David, 1940- — Holiday House, 2011--E-; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 0.6. A boy, a bird, and a dog share hours of enjoyment playing in a tree house. FREE Teaching Resources available for download from Follett.
Kite day : a Bear and Mole story by Hillenbrand, Will — Holiday House, 2012--E-; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 1.4. Bear and Mole build a kite and take it out on a windy day, but when the weather suddenly turns stormy there are unexpected consequences for some birds. FREE Teaching Resources available for download from Follett.
Grumpy Bird by Tankard, Jeremy — Scholastic Press, 2007--E-; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 1.5
After waking up grumpy, Bird decides he will walk instead of fly and is joined by other animals who cheer him up.
George flies south by James, Simon, 1961- — Candlewick Press, 2011--E-; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 1.6. George does not feel ready to learn to fly, leave his nest, and go south with the other birds, despite his mother's encouragement, but when a strong autumn wind gets hold of the nest, he may have no choice.
Forever friends by Berger, Carin — Greenwillow Books, 2010--E-; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 1.8. In the spring, a blue bird awakens a rabbit and invites him to play, and they enjoy every day together until it is time for the bird to fly south for the winter, with a promise to return again next spring.
Birds by Henkes, Kevin — Greenwillow Books, 2009--E-; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 2.1. Fascinated by the colors, shapes, sounds, and movements of the many different birds she sees through her window, a little girl is happy to discover that she and they have something in common.
Odd bird out by Bansch, Helga — Gecko Press USA, 2011--E-; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 2.1. Robert likes to tell jokes, dress up, and sing songs, but his behaviors are different from the other ravens and they do not appreciate his uniqueness.
Tom's tweet by Esbaum, Jill — Alfred A. Knopf, 2011--E-; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 2.5. When a cat finds a bedraggled baby bird that has fallen from its nest, an unlikely friendship develops between the two.
Mouse and Mole : fine feathered friends by Yee, Wong Herbert — Sandpiper, c2009 p2011--E-; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 2.6. Mouse and Mole, thwarted in their attempts at bird watching, put their heads together, along with a bit of glue and feathers, to come up with a plan to get closer to the birds.
The seasons change and a little tree learns the joy of sharing.The little tree that would not share by Costa, Nicoletta — Holiday House, 2016. Dewey: -E-; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 2.7. The seasons change and a little tree learns the joy of sharing.
The talent show by Hodgkinson, Jo — Andersen Press USA, c2010 p2011--E-; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 2.7. A tiny red bird wants very much to win the upcoming talent show, but first he must prove that being small does not mean having little talent.
If I never forever endeavor by Meade, Holly — Candlewick Press, 2011--E-; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 3.0. A young bird sits inside his cozy nest worrying if he is ready to try out his wings and fly.
Birdsongs by Franco, Betsy — Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2007--E-; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 3.3. Throughout the day and into the night various birds sing their songs, beginning with the woodpecker who taps a pole ten times and counting down to the hummingbird who calls once.
Ten birds by Young, Cybele, 1972- — Kids Can Press, 2011--513.2; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 3.4
Ten birds each come up with a different way to cross a river, and the bird known as "Needs Improvement" figures out the easiest method.
Magpie's treasure by Slater, Kate, 1986- — Andersen Press, 2010--E-; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 3.8
Mangnus Magpie, a bird who steals only the brightest, shiniest, most dazzling things, and then he stashes them at the top of his tree.
Fly free! by Thong, Roseanne — Boyds Mills Press, 2010. Dewey: -E-; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 3.9. When Mai feeds the caged birds at a Buddhist temple in Vietnam, her simple act of kindness starts a chain of thoughtful acts that ultimately comes back to her. Includes author's note explaining the Buddhist concepts of karma and samsara, or the wheel of life.
The birdman by Charles, Veronika Martenova — Tundra Books ,Tundra Books of Northern New York, 2006--E-; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 4.4. Colorful illustrations and text tell the true story of Noor Nobi, a tailor from Calcutta, India, who, after the loss of his family, set about to rescue, heal, and set free thousands of illegally captured birds.
South by McDonnell, Patrick, 1956- — Little, Brown, 2008--E-; Int Lvl: K-3
A little bird wakes up to find that his friends and family have flown south without him, but with the help of Mooch the cat, the bird might be able to catch up to his flock. FREE Teaching Resources available for download from Follett.
Teacher Resources:
Book Trailer for Little Bird http://vimeo.com/39607290
Comparison of More by Lies and Little Bird by Zullo at Books 4 Your Kids http://www.books4yourkids.com/2012/05/more-written-by-ic-springman-and.html
Lesson Plan for More at http://www.teachingbooks.net/media/pdf/HMH/More.pdf
Brian Lies blog/interview http://forum.teachingbooks.net/?p=8503
