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Ex-library copy. Includes dust jacket and dust jacket protector. Crisp pages. Book has a few library stamps and stickers. Ships direct from Amazon. Ex-library copy. Includes dust jacket and dust jacket protector. Crisp pages. Book has a few library stamps and stickers. Ships direct from Amazon. See less
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Margaret Wise Brown
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The Dead Bird Hardcover – Picture Book, March 1, 2016

by Margaret Wise Brown (Author), Christian Robinson (Illustrator)
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 115 ratings
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This New York Times Best Illustrated Book is a heartwarming classic from the author of Goodnight Moon and The Runaway Bunny, with stunning, evocative art by #1 New York Times bestselling and multiple-award-winning illustrator Christian Robinson (You Matter and Last Stop on Market Street). 

This classic picture book by beloved children’s book author Margaret Wise Brown is gorgeously reillustrated for a contemporary audience by the critically acclaimed, Caldecott Honor winning illustrator Christian Robinson.

One day, the children find a bird lying on its side with its eyes closed and no heartbeat. They are very sorry, so they decide to say good-bye. In the park, they dig a hole for the bird and cover it with warm sweet-ferns and flowers. Finally, they sing sweet songs to send the little bird on its way.

A beautiful book to share with children beginning to grapple with loss.

Previous page
  1. Reading age
    4 - 7 years
  2. Print length
    32 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Dimensions
    0.5 x 9.2 x 11 inches
  5. Publisher
    HarperCollins
  6. Publication date
    March 1, 2016
  7. ISBN-10
    0060289317
  8. ISBN-13
    978-0060289317
  9. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

“Robinson stays true to the intent of the original text and illustrations but elegantly improves upon it with cinematic storytelling.” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

“Brown takes a direct approach to a difficult subject, suggesting how community rituals provide solace. Robinson concludes with a wide-angle view of growing trees and the children flying a kite, implying a return to carefree fun and putting a poignant distance between the tiny figures and readers.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“Robinson’s sensitive new mixed-media art, with its personality-rich quartet of young people…and its city-park setting, elicits the children’s deeply felt emotions and their actions to honor the bird’s memory.” — Horn Book Magazine

“The original text is timeless, and the modern, cheerful illustrations will help resurrect this classic for a new generation of readers.” — ALA Booklist

“Robinson thoughtfully pays homage to his predecessor while bringing something new to the telling...a lovely book befitting its lineage.” — School Library Journal

About the Author

Margaret Wise Brown, cherished for her unique ability to convey a child’s experience and perspective of the world, transformed the landscape of children’s literature with such beloved classics as Goodnight Moon and The Runaway Bunny. Other perennial favorites by Ms. Brown include My World; Christmas in the Barn; The Dead Bird; North, South, East, West; and Good Day, Good Night.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ HarperCollins; Illustrated edition (March 1, 2016)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 32 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0060289317
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0060289317
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 4 - 7 years
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 14.3 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 0.5 x 9.2 x 11 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 115 ratings

About the authors

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  1. Margaret Wise Brown

    Margaret Wise Brown

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    Margaret Wise Brown wrote hundreds of books and stories during her life, but she is best known for Goodnight Moon and Runaway Bunny. Even though she died over 45 years ago, her books still sell very well. Margaret loved animals. Most of her books have animals as characters in the story. She liked to write books that had a rhythm to them. Sometimes she would put a hard word into the story or poem. She thought this made children think harder when they are reading. She wrote all the time. There are many scraps of paper where she quickly wrote down a story idea or a poem. She said she dreamed stories and then had to write them down in the morning before she forgot them. She tried to write the way children wanted to hear a story, which often isn't the same way an adult would tell a story. She also taught illustrators to draw the way a child saw things. One time she gave two puppies to someone who was going to draw a book with that kind of dog. The illustrator painted many pictures one day and then fell asleep. When he woke up, the papers he painted on were bare. The puppies had licked all the paint off the paper. Margaret died after surgery for a bursting appendix while in France. She had many friends who still miss her. They say she was a creative genius who made a room come to life with her excitement. Margaret saw herself as something else - a writer of songs and nonsense.

    See more on the author's page
  2. Christian Robinson

    Christian Robinson

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    Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

    Christian Robinson is a 2016 Caldecott Honoree and also received a Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor for his art in Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Peña (Putnam, 2015); de la Peña himself took home the 2016 Newbery Medal, awarded by the Association for Library Service to Children for the "most distinguished book for children."

    Leo: A Ghost Story, illustrated by Robinson and written by Mac Barnett (Chronicle, 2015), was named a 2015 New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Book of the Year. His Josephine: The Dazzling Life of Josephine Baker, written by Patricia Hruby Powell (Chronicle, 2014) received numerous awards and accolades including a Sibert Informational Book Award Honor and a Coretta Scott King Award Illustration Honor from the American Library Association; a Boston Globe-Horn Book Nonfiction Honor; a Parents Choice Gold Medal for Poetry 2014; and a place on the Wall Street Journal's 10 Best Children's Books of the Year List. Robinson, based in San Francisco, is also an animator and has worked with The Sesame Street Workshop and Pixar Animation Studios.

    See more on the author's page
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Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
115 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Melissa
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful story about death for children
Reviewed in the United States on August 12, 2021
Verified Purchase
I use this as a child psychologist and parent. It helped my toddlers understand the death of close loved ones. The story is sweet and easy for a child as young as 3 to understand.
6 people found this helpful
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AJ
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Book
Reviewed in the United States on March 7, 2022
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Really good book for 5 year olds
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Mark Cobb
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Book
Reviewed in the United States on December 8, 2016
Verified Purchase
Excellent book. There is something deeply appealing about the independence of the children in dealing with the situation and their confidence in deciding what to do. It could be a helpful book for a child or class when a pet or a person dies, and could setup a discussion of how to design a memorial service. I'm very happy I found it.
9 people found this helpful
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Derek Steffen
5.0 out of 5 stars HEARTFELT!!!
Reviewed in the United States on August 20, 2019
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Feels like real life. A heartfelt rendering of one of life’s important lessons. Shoutout also to Sacramento’s own Christian Robinson and his rich illustrations.
One person found this helpful
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Elizabeth Wren
5.0 out of 5 stars I can't get over how much I love this picture book
Reviewed in the United States on March 21, 2018
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I can't get over how much I love this picture book. Christian Robinson's illustrations are so perfect with Maragaret Wise Brown's sweet text.
2 people found this helpful
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Bee
5.0 out of 5 stars Book
Reviewed in the United States on November 27, 2018
Verified Purchase
A must book to have. Used it a lot in facilitating groups. Arrived early.
One person found this helpful
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JKW
4.0 out of 5 stars The Dead Bird - not sure about appropriate age to explain death
Reviewed in the United States on March 7, 2016
Verified Purchase
Not sure how I feel about this book yet. I actually bought it for a 2 year old, and am not quite sure if this is suitable for that age. I do like the book itself, the story itself, the pictures, etc.
4 people found this helpful
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Julianne
1.0 out of 5 stars Poor writing, great illustrations
Reviewed in the United States on January 26, 2018
Verified Purchase
The illustrations are good, but the story is so poorly written that I'll never read it to my son or my students. The story itself was okay, so the book could have been good if it had been written better. I wish I had been able to see the inside pages of the book before ordering it; I wouldn't have been duped. I'm returning it, even though they'll only give me half my money back.
One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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Julie Michailidis
1.0 out of 5 stars Not recommended
Reviewed in Canada on January 10, 2019
Verified Purchase
Bought for grandchildren but found it very cold and not empathetic. THE GOODBYE BOOK recommended fir 4-7 ye olds
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Joaquín García
4.0 out of 5 stars Bien
Reviewed in Spain on March 25, 2019
Verified Purchase
Interesante libro
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Juliet C. Bell
5.0 out of 5 stars Very good book that arrived quickly
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 25, 2017
Verified Purchase
I've read a lot of picture books about death (as I've written one myself), and this one is very definitely one of the best I've seen. It's really matter of fact in a very childlike way and it's beautifully written. It was written a very long time ago and it's been re-illustrated for this edition and I love these illustrations, too. I'd heartily recommend it to anyone with young children and because it's about a dead bird that they hadn't known, it's a gentle way in for all children, but comforting for those who've experienced bereavement, too. And it arrived very quickly. Thank you to the sellers.
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なかちゃん
5.0 out of 5 stars 日本語訳「ことりのおそうしき」と一緒に求めるべき一冊
Reviewed in Japan on July 20, 2016
Verified Purchase
最初に日本語訳を求めました。
子どもたちに「生」と「死」は対であることを伝えるためです。
そのあと英語原文はどうなんだろうと思い、この本を求めました。
日米でのタイトルの差がすべてを現しています。
悪い訳ではないけれど、日本の絵本出版の限界を知りました。
アメリカの子どもたちは恵まれています。
ぜひ、日本語訳版と対でお求めください。
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