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Ged Adamson
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Bird Hugs Kindle Edition

by Ged Adamson (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 3,966 ratings
Goodreads Choice Award nominee
See all formats and editions

Bernard isn’t like other birds. His wings are impossibly long, and try as he might, he just can’t seem to fly. He’s left wondering what his wings are good for…if they’re even good for anything at all. But a chance encounter with a dejected orangutan leads Bernard to a surprising discovery: that maybe what makes him different is actually something to be embraced.

Previous page
  1. Reading age
    2 - 6 years, from customers
  2. Print length
    40 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Grade level
    Preschool - 2
  5. Publisher
    Two Lions
  6. Publication date
    February 1, 2020
  7. Page Flip
    Not Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Not Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Not Enabled
  10. Sticky notes
    Not Enabled
  11. ISBN-13
    978-1542092722
  12. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

A 2020 Goodreads Choice Awards Finalist: Best Picture Books

“Readers will agree: All differences should be hugged, er, embraced.” —Kirkus Reviews

“The lesson is a simple, familiar one—selflessness and sympathy are key to making friends—but Adamson’s gentle humor and his eager-eyed characters’ yearning become an eloquent testimony to the power of a little TLC.” —Publishers Weekly

“Adamson’s warm and expressive watercolor and pencil illustrations show Bernard wrapped around a ticklish crocodile, snuggled up beside a blissed-out bunny, and patiently listening to a bat’s troubles during an evening therapy session. This small bird discovers he can reach new heights by leaning on his peers…Told with humor and heart, this sweet friendship tale soars.” —School Library Journal

“[A] humorous story with an important takeaway: our differences can be the very thing that make us dear to others, and embracing those differences can lead to the best things in life.” —Booklist

“Adamson’s watercolor and pencil art moves from vibrant full spreads to vignette-styled pages, lending both movement and focus, and wide-eyed, lavender-hued Bernard cuts an appealingly quirky figure with his wiggly wings…a celebration of cuddles and snuggles.” —The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

From the Publisher

I often think the world would be a kinder place if we embraced the sentiments found on the pages of picture books. Just take Bernard, a bird with impossibly long wings. He can’t fly, try as he might, and his friends fly off. But does he feel sorry for himself? Well, yes, for a bit. But when he comes upon a sad orangutan, he stops thinking about himself and focuses on how he can help, which as it turns out is with a great big hug.

The next thing he knows, there’s a parade of lions, giraffes, bats, and even a very brave worm waiting for a chance to tell him their problems and get one of his famous hugs. In the end, Bernard discovers that the thing that makes him different not only brings him purpose and joy, but lifts up so many others too. One hug, this charming book reminds us, can make all the difference.

- Kelsey Skea, Editor

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07VT47DXQ
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Two Lions (February 1, 2020)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ February 1, 2020
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 12058 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Not enabled
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 40 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 3,966 ratings

About the author

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Ged Adamson

Ged Adamson

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Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Ged Adamson is a children’s author and illustrator. He lives in London with his partner Helen and son Rex. He has worked as a cartoonist, storyboard artist and a composer for film and TV but he always wanted to write and illustrate picture books. And now he does. Hurray!

Ged is represented by Isabel Atherton at Creative Authors Ltd.

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
3,966 global ratings
I love this story - we all have a gift
5 Stars
I love this story - we all have a gift
What a fantastic uplifting book! Bernard is different, I mean really different. He’s a bird with really long wings. While all the other birds are learning how to fly, Bernard is grounded. He’s tried to fly but it didn’t work out. He’s had a few friends who have encouraged him but things just haven’t worked out. Eventually, everyone leaves him as they’re birds, as they fly off to find themselves new homes which leaves Bernard sad and then, I’m sad just thinking about him.One evening Bernard hears something that changes his life forever. Bernard discovers that the noise is someone who is more heartbroken than he is. Wanting to help, Bernard wraps his long wings around the sobbing orangutan and gives him a huge hug. This hug is a huge success for the both of them.I really enjoyed this book. I thought it was great that Bernard tried to come up with solutions to his issue and that he became emotional during this time. We can’t deny our feelings and Bernard definitely felt many emotions coming to terms with his gift. I loved that Bernard went out of his way to find the source of the noise when he heard it and that he did what came nature to him, when he saw that it was the orangutan. The ending was fantastic and it left a huge smile on my face. I need this book! It reminded me of the book, Donna O’Neeshuck Was Chased by Some Cows which I have loved for years.
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Top reviews from the United States

J. M. Starling
5.0 out of 5 stars Short and timely parable, with more than a spoonful of sugar to help the medicine go down.
Reviewed in the United States on January 1, 2020
Verified Purchase
Short, sweet, and timely, with a target audience just prior or during the initial developmental need for the moral of the story. This is a book about dreams failing regardless of hard work, and not just carrying on but finding value in something else entirely. This involves acceptance that you're not good at everything, and how pursuing what you're good at can be more useful than perseverance on something you're not. Children inevitably discover how their skills and abilities stack up against other children during school, and this lesson is very important, if secondary to perseverance itself. The bird's specialization takes him far beyond the bird community, where it would be less useful. His skills and where they're socially valued imply a more global sort of "economy," with more specialization in individual roles and reliance on others for other aspects of life, like flying. A lesson needed more in modern life than at other times, historically. I'd say grades P-2 makes sense, though the story covering the lesson might get too simple for kids K-2.
21 people found this helpful
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Michele B
5.0 out of 5 stars great story about being a friend
Reviewed in the United States on July 19, 2023
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Good lesson on being a friend in order to have friends. Loved this story to read to kids! Great illustrations!
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Stefanie
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful story, brilliant pictures but didn't display well thru Kindle app on phone
Reviewed in the United States on January 26, 2020
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Such a great book for kids! A wonderful story that sends a wonderful message. My 4 & 6 yr old loved it! The only downfall (nothing with the story itself) was that it didn't display well on my phone thru the Kindle app. Might be better on a big tablet though. We had to keep flipping the phone to get the pages the correct way and it wouldn't zoom in to look a the words/pictures bigger.
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Anomaly
4.0 out of 5 stars Cute Book, Subtle Yet Important Messages
Reviewed in the United States on March 24, 2020
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This book is cute in both concept and art. It has a brief, and slightly rushed, plot which teaches lessons in a subtle way. The main character learns to appreciate what he can do rather than lamenting what he can't and doesn't magically start being able to do it once he grows confidence. I think that's the part I enjoyed most, since it doesn't feel as patronizing as the "and suddenly they can do everything they once couldn't" message of some children's books. Instead, friends provide assistance and the power of kindness is explored.

I thought this book was a bit rushed and some places made the text difficult to read, but overall I did like it and I think it'd make an excellent bedtime story.
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Sheila Gallagher
5.0 out of 5 stars Cute!
Reviewed in the United States on October 3, 2021
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Bernard is a bird who cannot fly. His wings are too long. What is he to do? Well, he finds an important job to do. He helps many animals.

This was adorable. I liked that Bernard found a job that was important. I wish I could find a Bernard. This is perfect for the little tots.
One person found this helpful
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ittysbittsy
5.0 out of 5 stars Loved!!
Reviewed in the United States on February 12, 2020
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Great story, great message! Kinda like The Giving Tree without the existential crisis and depression heaped on unsuspecting gifted children at the end. Although it might not be the best book for highly empathic children who may already struggle with their unofficial calling as everyone's unpaid therapist. (It's ok not to be everyone's emotional garbage chute...)

But if you're not looking that deeply into the psychology of children's book, and even if you are, I'd recommend this book because of its message about friends, cliques, and self-acceptance.
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J W Wilson
5.0 out of 5 stars Everyone needs a hug
Reviewed in the United States on January 30, 2020
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And a good listener and a good friend. Very uplifting book for this oldster. Brilliant for children, but would be a great gift to all grandparents. The art is perfect. Love this book! I got it as a free Prime ebook, but now I want the hardback. Thank you, Mr Adamson.
Received my hardback copy yesterday. The pages are thick, sturdy paper that should stand up well to rough handling by eager little fingers. Definitely worth adding to any library!
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Ddorena
3.0 out of 5 stars Not a good book for Kindle
Reviewed in the United States on January 17, 2020
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The story is cute and there are a lot of things to point out or discuss from the pictures. My frustration was trying to read this book on a Kindle app. Some pages are turned 90 degrees so you have to turn the Kindle while reading. Other pages have multiple small images and it was impossible to enlarge the pictures. Touching the screen DID enlarge the text boxes, an unfortunate design that made it difficult to turn the pages. Several times we were stuck on a page, frantically poking the screen in a fruitless attempt to bring up the next page. The book might be better in paper version.
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Top reviews from other countries

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Cristiane Oliveira
5.0 out of 5 stars Muito bom
Reviewed in Brazil on May 8, 2023
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É uma estória curta mas profunda sobre a importância de cada um no mundo. É para crianças mas serve para adultos treinarem o inglês.
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Heather MacDonald
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautifully illustrated and oh so sweet!
Reviewed in Canada on August 25, 2021
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I love this book! It's perfect for my grandchildren who are all under 5, although I think an older child would get just as much out of it. Well written and charmingly illustrated, Bird Hugs is incredibly satisfying on a lot of different levels. It's witty and sweet and it's fun to read. The message seems to be: Embrace who you are; just because you have limitations doesn't mean you have to be limited. Your limitations can, in fact, help you to find your true self and make the world a better place. Such a great message to give all children, because we all have to face up to our limitations at some point in our lives. Five stars! Absolutely!
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A Gilburt
5.0 out of 5 stars Lovely story
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 3, 2020
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What a lovely story. I read it to my little girl and she throughly enjoyed it. The illustrations where lovely and bright, which helped keep her attention.
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Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book
Reviewed in Australia on July 14, 2022
Verified Purchase
Easy night read fun lighthearted with a good message that not everything has to be perfect would read again......

...
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Caroline Carvalho
5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome 🥰
Reviewed in Brazil on July 20, 2022
Verified Purchase
I understand you,little bat😂! I loved the story, the different became special and can help other people a lot. I recommend!
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