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12th out of 93 books
—
205 voters
A Home for Bird
While out foraging for interesting things, Vernon the toad finds a new friend - a small blue bird who is curiously silent. Vernon shows Bird the river and the forest and some of his other favorite things, but Bird says nothing. Vernon introduces Bird to his friends, Skunk and Porcupine, but Bird still says nothing."Bird is shy," says Vernon, "but also a very good listener....more
Hardcover, 32 pages
Published
June 5th 2012
by Roaring Brook Press
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Vernon is a determined friend and his tenacity is so endearing because his friendship isn't really returned. He looks at birds unresponsiveness as bird being a good listener and being brave (awww).His happiness at the end is just so gratifying! Good noticers will take a lot of pleasure in comparing the end of the book to the very first page in the story.
I have been looking forward to this book since forever and it did not disappoint!
I have been looking forward to this book since forever and it did not disappoint!
“A Home for Bird” written and illustrated by Philip C. Stead is the story of a toad named Vernon who finds a new friend, a small blue bird while out foraging. He takes Bird to the forest, river, cloud watching and to meet new friends, however bird does not say anything. Vernon just assumes that “Bird is shy.” Vernon becomes worried that Bird is not happy, so they set out to find his home hoping to make Bird happy. Vernon really goes out of his way to help his new found friend, traveling a long,...more
A bird from a cuckoo clock was lost while on a moving truck. A friendly frog named Vernon is very kind and helpful trying to help Bird find the perfect home. (And seriously, I love that the frog is named Vernon. It is a name I haven't seen in children's literature all that often.)
Vernon forages to find things Bird might like. Vernon shows Bird places or things that Bird might like. Vernon really goes out of his way to help Bird. And it is great that even though Bird never speaks, Vernon knows wh...more
Vernon forages to find things Bird might like. Vernon shows Bird places or things that Bird might like. Vernon really goes out of his way to help Bird. And it is great that even though Bird never speaks, Vernon knows wh...more
The art in A Home for Bird wasn't necessarily my favorite style; it actually reminded me a lot of coloring with Crayola markers when they start to run out of ink. Of course, I understand that it's far more deliberate than that, and I look forward to reading Bear Has a Story to Tell, since the art in that looks a little closer to his wife, Erin Stead's style, which I LOVE. The story in A Home for Bird was super cute: a toad who made a new friend named Bird, who we the audience can obviously tell...more
Richie’s Picks: A HOME FOR BIRD by Philip C. Stead, Neil Porter/Roaring Brook, June 2012, 32p., ISBN: 978-1-59643-711-1
“Like the singin’ bird and the croakin’ toad
I’ve got a name, I’ve got a name”
-- Jim Croce
“Vernon was out foraging for interesting things when he found Bird.”
Vernon is a toad. Bird -- as we learn from the illustration on the full copyright spread -- is the inanimate cuckoo from a cuckoo clock that has been unwittingly sent forth into the world when the hour struck whilst the cloc...more
“Like the singin’ bird and the croakin’ toad
I’ve got a name, I’ve got a name”
-- Jim Croce
“Vernon was out foraging for interesting things when he found Bird.”
Vernon is a toad. Bird -- as we learn from the illustration on the full copyright spread -- is the inanimate cuckoo from a cuckoo clock that has been unwittingly sent forth into the world when the hour struck whilst the cloc...more
Aug 11, 2012
Kris
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Shelves:
2013-mock-caldecott,
childrens,
favorites,
picture-book,
preschool,
read-aloud,
mixed-media,
gouache,
crayon
4 starred reviews: PW, Booklist, Kirkus, Hornbook
Sweet, sweet story! Illustrations are captivating. Story gets better with each re-reading.
***See interview with Philip Stead at 7 Impossible Things.
"..Observant children will have noticed (next to the copyright information) the overloaded “Careful Moving Co.” pickup truck barreling down the road, where a bump releases a cuckoo from its clock spring. On re-readings, additional story elements will be discovered in the truck...Stead’s loose gouache...more
Sweet, sweet story! Illustrations are captivating. Story gets better with each re-reading.
***See interview with Philip Stead at 7 Impossible Things.
"..Observant children will have noticed (next to the copyright information) the overloaded “Careful Moving Co.” pickup truck barreling down the road, where a bump releases a cuckoo from its clock spring. On re-readings, additional story elements will be discovered in the truck...Stead’s loose gouache...more
Awwww. This book is so sweet! The story starts out wordlessly when we see a cuckoo bird falling off a truck full of household items. A concerned dog watches the mishap happen. When Vernon the Frog finds the bird while collecting interesting things, he tries to strike up a conversation. Bird is silent, so he figures he's just shy. He introduces him to his friends, Porcupine and Skunk, but he still says nothing. Vernon decides he's sad because he misses his home. With his friends' help, Vernon goe...more
A Publisher's Weekly Best Book of 2012.
Caldecott contender? (Definitely!)
Philip C. Stead teaches us about friendship, and home, and persistence in his book, "A Home for Bird." This beautiful book is my favorite so far this year! A foraging frog, Vernon, comes across Bird on one of his expeditions. Bird does not speak and is apparently homeless, but Vernon immediately adopts him as a companion, introduces him to his friends, and vows to help him find his home. Vernon leaves his own home and frien...more
Caldecott contender? (Definitely!)
Philip C. Stead teaches us about friendship, and home, and persistence in his book, "A Home for Bird." This beautiful book is my favorite so far this year! A foraging frog, Vernon, comes across Bird on one of his expeditions. Bird does not speak and is apparently homeless, but Vernon immediately adopts him as a companion, introduces him to his friends, and vows to help him find his home. Vernon leaves his own home and frien...more
Age: Preschool - 1st grade
"While out foraging for interesting things, Vernon the toad finds a new friend - a small blue bird who is curiously silent. Vernon shows Bird the river and the forest and some of his other favorite things, but Bird says nothing. Vernon introduces Bird to his friends, Skunk and Porcupine, but Bird still says nothing. "Bird is shy," says Vernon, "but also a very good listener." Vernon worries that Bird is silent because he misses his home, so the two set off on a journey...more
"While out foraging for interesting things, Vernon the toad finds a new friend - a small blue bird who is curiously silent. Vernon shows Bird the river and the forest and some of his other favorite things, but Bird says nothing. Vernon introduces Bird to his friends, Skunk and Porcupine, but Bird still says nothing. "Bird is shy," says Vernon, "but also a very good listener." Vernon worries that Bird is silent because he misses his home, so the two set off on a journey...more
Delightful! Vernon is a toad with a very big heart. He meets a bird who doesn't have much to say (the illustrations show that Bird is made of wood). Vernon makes friends with the silent Bird and takes it upon himself to help Bird find a home. The ending is sweet and satisfying.
This is reminiscent of the recent Boy and Bot because they're both about a living creature interacting with a non-living (or turned off, or asleep) creature in sweet and funny ways. It also mirrors the relationship a chil...more
This is reminiscent of the recent Boy and Bot because they're both about a living creature interacting with a non-living (or turned off, or asleep) creature in sweet and funny ways. It also mirrors the relationship a chil...more
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Vernon is a happy frog foraging in the forest when he comes across bird. Vernon greets bird, but bird is silent. Vernon just thinks bird is shy. He invites bird to join him in looking for things in the forest. Bird is introduced to Vernon's friends. Bird says nothing. Vernon explains that he is a good listener. Vernon becomes bird's friend and realizes that bird may be sad and homesick. The adventure begins.
The story has a twist at the end that is great to play up during a read aloud. I used the...more
The story has a twist at the end that is great to play up during a read aloud. I used the...more
On the opening page a wooden cuckoo breaks out of the cuckoo clock that is in the back of a pick up truck along with many other things that someone is moving. He falls onto the road and is discovered by Vernon a frog who likes to collect intersting things. Since he doesn't speak Vernon thinks he is shy, and introduces bird to his friends skunk and porcupine. Vernon begins to worry that Bird is unhappy since he never speaks. His solution to the problem is to take bird on a journey to find his hom...more
Vernon,the frog,loves his friend Bird, who doesn't talk,and wants him to be happy and if that means finding Bird a home, well then, by golly, Vernon is going to make that happen. And with that determination Bird, Vernon, the Reader and Philip Stead's illustrations set off on a wonderful journey. Everyone should have a friend like Vernon, who never gives up and helps his friend find his voice. Everyone should have a friend like Bird, who doesn't say anything but is a really good listener. This is...more
Stoic Bird falls out of a truck on moving day and Vernon, the frog, rescues him. In this one-sided friendship, Vernon, the ultimate non-judgmental friend (“Bird is shy, but also a very good listener”), is nurturing and persistent in his efforts to find Bird’s home, even taking them on a trip down a river and then in a hot-air balloon ride. Written and illustrated by the author of the Caldecott winner A Sick Day for Amos McGee, Stead uses water soluble crayon with gouache to create panels, single...more
Vernon, a toad, discovers Bird during a foraging expedition. Bird doesn't speak. "But he's a very good listener," Vernon and his friends agree.
But where does Bird live? How can he get back home? Vernon is determined to help his new friend out, so he takes him on a long journey. Eventually Bird is returned home -- to his cuckoo clock, where he can speak again.
As he did in his Caldecott winner A Sick Day for Amos McGee, Stead writes a charming, quiet story of friendship, understanding, and loyalty...more
But where does Bird live? How can he get back home? Vernon is determined to help his new friend out, so he takes him on a long journey. Eventually Bird is returned home -- to his cuckoo clock, where he can speak again.
As he did in his Caldecott winner A Sick Day for Amos McGee, Stead writes a charming, quiet story of friendship, understanding, and loyalty...more
Vernon is adorable! A story of a friendship and a journey, it left me with many questions. What happened to Porcupine and Skunk? Will Vernon stay at this new home with Bird, or will he continue on another journey while foraging for interesting things?
I love the way the story integrates concepts such as friendship, loyalty, and bravery into a very simple story without feeling overbearing. I wish we could all be a little more like Vernon, going to such lengths to help a silent friend. The bright i...more
I love the way the story integrates concepts such as friendship, loyalty, and bravery into a very simple story without feeling overbearing. I wish we could all be a little more like Vernon, going to such lengths to help a silent friend. The bright i...more
Vernon the toad finds bird while he is foraging for interesting things and makes it his mission to find bird's home because he believes it is the reason bird is silent and sad.
Clever and inventive with a satisfying conclusion. Illustrations look like a mix of pencil sketches, watercolor, and pastels. I really loved the childlike playfulness of the sky with its visible color scratches. The image of the toad brought to mind a fanother famous toad and warmed my heart. Great read aloud, especially...more
Clever and inventive with a satisfying conclusion. Illustrations look like a mix of pencil sketches, watercolor, and pastels. I really loved the childlike playfulness of the sky with its visible color scratches. The image of the toad brought to mind a fanother famous toad and warmed my heart. Great read aloud, especially...more
Frog and Toad, if Toad was mute.
Illustrations: adorable. Story: adorable. I will admit that the first time I read it I didn't pay attention to the end papers. Mistake. Always pay attention to the end papers. Since I didn't pay attention to the end papers, I had no idea where Bird had come from, I had no clue as to Bird's identity, and I was surprised by Bird's home. Duh.
This little froggie is just the sweetest thing. He's the kind of froggie who can be completely ignored and just think you're a...more
Illustrations: adorable. Story: adorable. I will admit that the first time I read it I didn't pay attention to the end papers. Mistake. Always pay attention to the end papers. Since I didn't pay attention to the end papers, I had no idea where Bird had come from, I had no clue as to Bird's identity, and I was surprised by Bird's home. Duh.
This little froggie is just the sweetest thing. He's the kind of froggie who can be completely ignored and just think you're a...more
This story reminded of the classic Frog & Toad stories, filled with small adventures, wonder, and most importantly compassion and heart.
The book opens with a picture of the “Careful Moving Co.” on the title page where readers will get visual clues as to the origins of Bird. The story starts with Vernon foraging through the forest for interesting things, when he befriends Bird. They spend time together but Bird is quiet, this worries Vernon who decides he must help Bird find his home.
One of t...more
The book opens with a picture of the “Careful Moving Co.” on the title page where readers will get visual clues as to the origins of Bird. The story starts with Vernon foraging through the forest for interesting things, when he befriends Bird. They spend time together but Bird is quiet, this worries Vernon who decides he must help Bird find his home.
One of t...more
3.5 stars (not sure if I really like it or not).
Verso shows a pickup truck moving furniture to a new house. On the way the cuckoo bird pops off the cuckoo clock. Frog finds the bird, tries to have a conversation (bird is quiet, bird is scared, bird is brave) but bird doesn't speak. Frog decides to help bird find it home so they begin the adventure.
The illustrations were sloppy to me, but I'm sure there are plenty of people who love them. The story is what I enjoyed the most.
Lower elementary scho...more
Verso shows a pickup truck moving furniture to a new house. On the way the cuckoo bird pops off the cuckoo clock. Frog finds the bird, tries to have a conversation (bird is quiet, bird is scared, bird is brave) but bird doesn't speak. Frog decides to help bird find it home so they begin the adventure.
The illustrations were sloppy to me, but I'm sure there are plenty of people who love them. The story is what I enjoyed the most.
Lower elementary scho...more
In A Home for Bird, a scavenging toad named Vernon finds lost a cuckoo clock bird and helps him find his home. A Caldecott Winner for A Sick Day for Amos McGee, Philip C. Stead layers water soluble crayons with goauche to create the warm, generous illustrations that reward slow reading.
Check out Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast's excellent interview with Stead about A Home for Bird's creation complete with in progress artwork for the book: http://blaine.org/sevenimpossiblethin...
Check out Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast's excellent interview with Stead about A Home for Bird's creation complete with in progress artwork for the book: http://blaine.org/sevenimpossiblethin...
Vernon, the toad, was out finding interesting things when he met Bird. Bird wasn’t much for talking, not responding to anything that Vernon said, not even when he introduced Bird to his friends, Skunk and Porcupine. Despite his silence (and his stiffness and button eyes) Vernon proceeded to show Bird around the river and forest. But when Bird didn’t react even to watching clouds together, Vernon started to worry that Bird was depressed. So Vernon and Bird set out to help Bird find his home. They...more
Must pay attention to every little detail! This is another book my kids and I immediately reread as soon as we finished it--and I liked it better the second time around. It jumped from a 4 star to a 5 star for me. I am drawn to Erin Stead's art every time, but Philip Stead's has to grow on me. I like this one better than Jonathan and the Big Blue Boat.
3.5 STARS
Hum. I'm really not sure what to make of this book. On the one hand, it is very sweet and endearing, a lovely story of friendship, generosity and caring. On the other hand, I just wasn't quite sure what to make of the resolution and in some respects it made me a little sad, though I don't think it was meant to. Maybe it was just the mood I was in when I read this. I can see it being really amusing and charming and I know many people loved the book.
Hum. I'm really not sure what to make of this book. On the one hand, it is very sweet and endearing, a lovely story of friendship, generosity and caring. On the other hand, I just wasn't quite sure what to make of the resolution and in some respects it made me a little sad, though I don't think it was meant to. Maybe it was just the mood I was in when I read this. I can see it being really amusing and charming and I know many people loved the book.
Don't miss the illustration on the dedication page...
What a blend of seemingly simple illustrations and story line with sophisticated detail in image and text- color, expression, vocabulary, initiative, and character development. page after page produces entertainment, even giggles, while building a deeper and deeper concern for the characters. The ending is so satisfying in itself, but paired with the intro images it creates a circle story.
What a blend of seemingly simple illustrations and story line with sophisticated detail in image and text- color, expression, vocabulary, initiative, and character development. page after page produces entertainment, even giggles, while building a deeper and deeper concern for the characters. The ending is so satisfying in itself, but paired with the intro images it creates a circle story.
A frog finds an odd bird that never speaks. He tries to help it find its way home, believing that when he finds the home, the bird will speak. Eventually he stops to rest in a clock on the wall and...well I'm sure you can guess. This style of illustration didn't really appeal to me. It was colorful and very messy. The story wasn't bad but It was a little boring and predictable. I'm clearly not the intended audience, though.
This book reminds me of why I love books like David Weisner's Tuesday...I love spare text that says so much with so little, and illustrations that fill in the rest beautifully. And the illos in this book are fabulous! You know by the art what happened and probably how it will end, but it reads so flowingly and the art is such a feast for the eyes, that you'll likely still be pleased by the satisfactory ending.
This is a strange, but sweet tale of a toad who tries to bring his new friend home. The narrative is short, but I would recommend this for elementary school-age children who can understand the irony. The illustrations are colorful, but a bit too scribbly for my taste.
After we read this story, we discussed how this book was similar to other stories we'd read. Our youngest daughter compared it to the book A Friend For Dragon by Dav Pilkey, and I loved that she was able to link the two.
Overall, it...more
After we read this story, we discussed how this book was similar to other stories we'd read. Our youngest daughter compared it to the book A Friend For Dragon by Dav Pilkey, and I loved that she was able to link the two.
Overall, it...more
1 like · like · see review
Another selection from the Stars so Far list.
I think I am too literal for this book. I keep trying to figure out an underlying meaning. Like, is it about finding the right type of home? Of seeing beneath the surface? Of waiting for a sign to confirm you are on the right path? All I kept thinking was 'Why can't the frog tell the different between alive and not alive? Poor deluded little froggie.'
I think I am too literal for this book. I keep trying to figure out an underlying meaning. Like, is it about finding the right type of home? Of seeing beneath the surface? Of waiting for a sign to confirm you are on the right path? All I kept thinking was 'Why can't the frog tell the different between alive and not alive? Poor deluded little froggie.'
A sweet story about friendship and determination. When Vernon meets a bird who does not talk, the friendly frog deduces that the bird misses his own home, and he undertakes a quest to get Bird back home. As the two share various adventures, astute readers will see what Vernon does not. And if they were paying close attention to the dedication page, they may even successfully predict the outcome.
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