The Sparrow's Song by Ian Wallace
Genre: Picture book
This simple yet touching story was written by Canadian author, Ian Wallace. Set in Niagara Falls, Canada, The Sparrow's Song centers around a brother and sister who nurse a motherless baby bird to independence. The story deals with themes of innocence and fragility of life. The book is very well written. Wallace writes simply but his words are laced with the characters' emotions. His lyrical writing style flows off the page and into the readers' hearts. This humble account of the kindness of two children will resonate with young students, particularly since it deals with animals which most children love. In addition, Wallace takes us through the personal growth of the brother who initially kills the bird's mother with a slingshot. Having cared for the bird with his sister, he throws the weapon away at the end of the story. Many children will relate to this situation and appreciate the gentleness which the brother demonstrates towards the helpless bird.
The layout of this book is formal. There is consistent format of black text with white background on the left-hand page with a corresponding illustration on the right. Similarly on the cover the title text is centered at the top of the page using a traditional font. The formality suits the book and the traditional nature of the characters and setting (the early 1900s).
The illustrations in this book tell the story well depicting the beautiful Niagara falls region. Students will probably enjoy the drawings which primarily use soothing blues and greens; they suit the overall feeling of the story. Wallace uses curved lines in scenes of incredible Niagara falls to indicate the rushing movement of the water. He also does so when Katie and her brother release the sparrow into the air. The curved lines of the trees, rocks, and waterfall seem to push the bird higher into the air as he flies toward his newfound freedom. Wallace also created the illustrations himself. Overall, The Sparrow's Song will not appear on my top 10 list, however it is worth noting as a potential piece to include in a primary classroom.
Grandma and the Pirates by Phoebe Gilman
Genre: Picture book
Grandma and the Pirates by American-born author Phoebe Gilman (now living in Canada) centers around a grandmother and her granddaughter who are kidnapped by pirates. This charming tale of a resourceful little girl, Melissa, and her experience with three savage pirates will excite young children. This book was given to me at the age of three and quickly became a favorite. Although it deals with pirates and kidnapping it is not in the least bit frightening and is quite funny at heart. Gilman uses great descriptive language which allows the book to be read in an enthusiasic manner. She even includes a poem about all the food the pirates steal from Grandma. (As a child, I loved this part so much I had memorized the entire poem.) It is easy to find a hero in young Melissa as she quickly adapts to way of life on the pirate ship, tricking the nasty pirates and eventually outwitting them entirely. As I did as a child kids will root for Melissa and Grandma, admiring their clever success at stealing their ship and leaving the pirates stranded on a island all alone. Gilman writes the characters in such a way that it is not hard to invest in them, despite the story being a short picture book. The illustrations (done by Gilman as well) support the story and enhance the reading experience. From the front cover to the very last page the pictures are detailed and quite beautiful. Light blues and greens accompany Grandma and Melissa, while the pages describing the pirates and their plundering are mostly browns and stormy blues. Gilman also captures the facial expressions of each character perfectly which adds to the written text. Overall, Grandma and the Pirates is a great story for young children pre-school to grade 1. I would recommend it to parents and teachers; I have even given it to children as gifts.
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