The Stone Bird

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

It might look like a pebble from the beach, but Eliza knows this is an egg. And one night when she hears cracking, she discovers the Stone Bird. It might still look like a stone to her mum, but Eliza knows it's alive. Step into the magical world of one child's imagination in this stunning debut by exciting new author Jenny McCartney, illustrated by luminary of children's books Patrick Benson.

Reviews provided by Syndetics

School Library Journal Review

PreS-Gr 1-When young Eliza finds a stone on the beach, she knows that it is not really a stone, but an egg. And one night it hatches and becomes a stone bird. Over time, as seasons change, the girl nurtures the stone bird and takes it everywhere. One day another small stone pebble, or egg, appears, and soon there are two stone birds under Eliza's care. She builds a nest and continues to cherish her pets despite her mother's insistence that they are simply stones. As time goes on, the birds are never far from Eliza's mind. One day they disappear, leaving Eliza to wonder if they have flown away. Saddened and confused by the loss of her birds, the child is surprised to find a gift from her avian friends on her birthday: a soft gray feather on her windowsill, leaving Eliza with hope for the future. This is a wonderful story that explores the magic and possibility inherent in a child's imagination. Benson's classic watercolor illustrations pair perfectly with McCartney's sweet, simple text and together relay the book's message: "If she believes and loves, magic is possible." VERDICT A sweet and tender reminder to treasure the power of imagination.-Elizabeth Blake, Brooklyn Public Library © Copyright 2018. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Booklist Review

For this mysterious story, the visual narrative begins with the cover itself. An intricately mottled gray bird flies above while a girl walks alone on a beach below. As the text begins, Eliza, now in extreme close-up, finds an egg-shaped stone and takes it home. One night, it feels warm, and when Eliza awakens she finds a small stone bird. Eventually a pebble joins the bird. Eliza cares for them, makes them a nest, and is pleased in spring when the pebble becomes a smaller version of the stone bird. Throughout the story, Eliza's mother call them stones and Eliza calls them birds. When a window is left open, the birds disappear. Later, Eliza sees two gray birds outside and finds a feather on her windowsill. The dreamy tale does not offer definitive answers, instead allowing readers to draw their own conclusions. The illustrations include a blend of textures to suggest both weight and lightness, stone and feather. The covers of famous children's books are scattered throughout the pictures, adding a fun puzzle element.--Lucinda Whitehurst Copyright 2019 Booklist

Horn Book Review

Young Eliza finds a small stone on the beach and, beguiled, claims it as her own. By the time she makes it home, she has decided its an egg. Days pass, and one morning she wakes up to see, in place of the egg, a stone bird. As the seasons go by, further changes occur: a small gray stone appears next to her bird; later, that small stone is replaced by a stone chick. Then, as a breeze makes its way through her open bedroom window one night, she hears the beating of wings and wakes to find both birds gone. She mourns their loss but is comforted when two gray birds leave a feather on her windowsill. McCartney captures in direct, uncomplicated prose the unwavering faith and abundant imagination of children, even when the adults around them are quick to dole out crushing doses of reason. Elizas mother repeatedly attempts to shut down Elizas magical leanings: Its much too heavy to be an egg; Its too hard to be a bird. But Eliza disregards such doubt, knowing that this stony secret is hers alone. Bensons richly detailed depictions of Elizas home and the natural world around it radiate warmth. These cozy, sunlit illustrations reflect the fervor of Elizas convictions; in many spreads, ?we see her stare in wide-eyed wonder ?at her stone companionsas real in ?her mind as they are solid in her hand. julie Danielson (c) Copyright 2018. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Kirkus Book Review

A little girl on the beach picks up an egg-shaped gray stone and imagines it will hatch into a bird.Despite her mother's insistence that the stone is too hard and heavy to be an egg, the dark-haired, pale-skinned girl, Eliza, sleeps with it under her pillow, treasuring its cool, smooth surface. One hot evening the stone feels very warm, so Eliza places it on her night table before falling asleepwaking to find the egg transformed into the shape of a bird. As the seasons change from summer to fall to winter, Eliza discovers a new gray pebble next to her stone bird and places them in a nest she fashions from a pair of socks. By springtime, two stone birds appear in her sock nest, a chick next to her mama bird. Warmer weather requires an open window, and one night Eliza dreams of beating wings and awakens to find her sock nest empty. Could the birds have come to life and flown away? Illustrations that look to be made from pen and ink with watercolors evoke summery seashore scenes and frosty winter evenings as the child's playtime reveries become, for her, real. Sad at the loss of her stone birds, she finds that her birthday morning brings two doves near her bedroom window and the gift of a soft gray feather. Never underestimate a preschooler's resourceful thinking. (Picture book. 3-6) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.