Little bird's day

As soon as the sun peeks above the horizon, a silver-crowned friarbird alerts the denizens of Australia's Arnhem Land region that the day has begun. Aboriginal writer Morgan (who "belongs to the Palyku people") offers a spare, lyrical text that captures the quotidian action: "Here comes Sun rising and shining. Time to stretch, Little Bird, time to sing the world alive." Little Bird's warbling causes the water buffalo, cranes, dingoes, lizards, snakes, kangaroos, and echidnas to stir. The friarbird rides on the wind, feasts on crimson blossoms, and chases its avian pals through the clouds. A passing rainstorm allows the creature to wash its feathers and, at dusk, to make its way home to roost with its family in a "welcoming tree," with dreams of flying among the stars. Malibirr's visually arresting, graphically stylized acrylic paintings are done in an earth-toned color palette of red, yellow, ochre, black, and white. The Yolngu artist uses a traditional design to create distinctive and eye-catching animals adorned with intricate crosshatching and placed on solid backgrounds. From two Indigenous creators, this gorgeous glimpse at the land Down Under will have broad appeal. Luann Toth January/February 2022 p.94(c) Copyright 2022. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Little Bird responds to cues from Sun, Dusk, Moon, and others as natural elements guide a day of activities. Aboriginal author Morgan, a member of the Palyku people in Western Australia, presents a beautifully cadenced call-and-response narrative voiced by Little Bird and the natural forces that propel its behavior. "Here comes Rain, / falling and splashing. / Time to bathe, Little Bird, / time to sparkle with freshness. // I flutter with Rain to wash my fuzzy feathers." Little Bird, rising with Sun, sings "to wake the lazy sleepers." It soars with Wind to reach and feed on a tree's "crimson blossoms." Dusk, "gliding and sighing," induces Little Bird "to join a nightfall roost." And full Moon, "glowing and whispering," signals that it's "Time to rest, Little Bird, / time to settle with your family." Illustrator Malibirr, a Yolŋu artist from the Aboriginal Ganalbingu clan, uses traditional earth tones, crosshatching, and elements from clan songlines and stories to distinguish his engrossing illustrations, worked in acrylic paint on toned paper. He depicts animals from his native Arnhem Land region, from water buffalo and dingo to echidna and freshwater prawn; an illustrated key challenges readers to find all 10. As Little Bird roosts with its family, it dreams of "flying among the stars." The dark sky, spattered with thousands of starlit specks, reveals Little Bird's shadowy silhouette in its dreamed flight. Pairing a lilting text and culturally resonant illustrations, this striking work soars. (editorial note) (Picture book. 3-7) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.