Review
An American Indian Youth Literature Honor Title
A 2020 Boston Globe—Horn Book Award Honor Title: Picture books
A Capital Choices 2020 selection
A NCSS-CBC Notable Social Studies 2020 Title
A Chicago Public Library "Best of the Best" Title
“[Birdsong] shows young readers how new friends can sometimes ease them; that this friendship is an intergenerational one between fellow artists is an especially sweet touch. Emotionally stunning.”
—Kirkus Reviews (Starred Review)
“Flett’s subtle, sensitive story delicately traces filaments of growth and loss through intergenerational friendship, art making, and changing moons and seasons. Cree-Métis words (defined in a small glossary) add an intimate layer of identity to the child’s lustrous narration, which shines against the spare beauty of rich illustrations by Flett.”
—Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)
“Simple and profound, this tender story is a reminder that finding a new friend can make a new place feel like home. Highly recommended for purchase.”
—School Library Journal (Starred Review)
“Birdsong is about embracing the many natural cycles that run through our lives.”
—Quill & Quire (Starred Review)
“Birdsong by Julie Flett...is an absolutely perfect picture book. Flett’s warm textured pencil and pastel illustrations are a perfect match for her stunningly lyrical text.”
—Globe Books
“Beautifully written and sensitively illustrated, Birdsong will gently and profoundly wash over readers in unexpected ways.”
—Books to Borrow, Books to Buy
“Perhaps most exciting, this fall sees a blossoming of books by Indigenous authors and illustrators, long largely overlooked by the industry. There are such established creators as Julie Flett (Cree/Métis), whose picture book Birdsong presents a lovely, quiet story of intergenerational friendship.”
—Kirkus Reviews
“Cree-Métis author/illustrator Julie Flett's smooth and lyrical words and gorgeous digitally composed pastel and pencil images truly capture the warmth and solidarity of the female protagonists in this tender intergenerational friendship story.”
—Horn Book
“Flett’s prose and art are characteristically pared down to reveal power in simplicity. The landscape and earth’s bounty are as integral as the people are to this tender story of nothing much—just life. But, after all, what else is there?”
—Booklist
“A beautiful, beautiful book about change, home, unexpected cross-generational friendships, time passing, and seasons. A warm and moving story with lovely, perfect illustrations.”
—Baby Librarians
“Flett fills this tender story with spare, precise language and vivid details…The text seamlessly incorporates Cree-Métis words [and] Flett’s earth-toned illustrations capture the seasons with a spare, minimalist beauty.”
—Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast
“Readers will understand that just like the seasons of nature, our human lives have seasons, too... Powerful.”
—Imagination Soup
“Birdsong is a solid choice for libraries looking to add culturally diverse selections to their collection. [...] The soft, muted color illustrations are reminiscent of Ezra Jack Keats’ in their simplicity and complement this quiet story about friendship”
—School Library Connection
About the Author
JULIE FLETT is a Cree-Métis author, illustrator, and artist who has received numerous awards for her books, including the New York Times/New York Public Library Best Illustrated Children’s Book Award, two Governor General’s Awards, the American Indian Youth Literature Award, and the TD Canadian Children’s Literature Award. Her books have been selected for Best of the Year lists by dozens of media outlets, including The Washington Post, Publishers Weekly, The Horn Book, School Library Journal, The Globe and Mail, and Kirkus Reviews. Her critically acclaimed picture books We All Play, and Still This Love Goes On (with Buffy Sainte-Marie) are also published by Greystone Kids. Flett lives in Victoria, Canada.
