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This carefully recorded biography of a common sparrow is so remarkable a tale, so beautifully presented, that it has become one of the classic stories of animal life.
"...Will be sold by the hundred thousand. The photographs are astonishing in themselves and a wonderful witness of the love that extends to all creatures great and small..." - Walter de la Mare
"...Will be sold by the hundred thousand. The photographs are astonishing in themselves and a wonderful witness of the love that extends to all creatures great and small..." - Walter de la Mare
Hardcover
First published July 1, 1956
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
October 8, 2018
Nature Books and a Little Bird Named Clarence
What a delightful book. Who would think that reading about a bird's life would be enjoyable?
I remember years ago when I lived in Del Mar, Ca I had stopped in a used bookstore some where between Del Mar and Encinitas. On a lower shelf I found many old nature books and bought them all. It seemed like they had been someone's collection as they were very old and all together. Perhaps someone had died and a relative had sent them to the used store to be sold. I only remember two of them because I had read them immediately. One was about a pet hummingbird, and the other was about a t raccoon. When we moved I had to get rid of them because we were downsizing. I wish that I had at least written down the names of the books. But here it is many years later, and I am collecting nature books. I found the one about the hummingbird and then the one about the raccoon. Of course, while these books are fun to read they all have sad endings, which is why I haven't read but one, "A Seal Called Andre," and well, this one.
This little bird was named Clarence. The author found him when he was a baby that had fallen from his nest. He had some injuries that had never healed enough for him to be let loose into the wilderness. And as amazing as it was, he survived. I was never able to get a bird to survive whenever I had found one, but I have a friend here that found a baby robin and fed him, and he lived. Now I know where to take a baby bird or who to ask how to feed it. My friend let him outside when he was almost grown, and he could go in and out of his cage. He would fly onto her head, which was amazing to see. Then one day he flew away and never returned.
What was amazing about this little sparrow in the book is that he learned to sing, and sparrows don't sing. He lived with the author for 12 years, and during the bombing of England they both survived, and she often took him to a shelter to entertain children. And so the little story goes on.
Here is a recipe for feeding birds suet from Birds and Bloom magazine:
Pseudo Suet Recipe
I work at a Wild Birds Unlimited store, and I’m always encouraging my customers to make their own recipes filled with fat (rather than sugars and grains) to best benefit the birds. Here’s my simple method for making suet-type food.
2 cups shelled, unsalted peanuts
½ cup raisins
2 to 3 tablespoons cornmeal
Process peanuts in a food processor until they’re the consistency of peanut butter. Then add the raisins and process for another minute. Add the cornmeal and process again. Press this mixture into a mold of your choice. This recipe will have the greatest nutritional value for your feathered friends. -Linda Popejoy, Concord, North Carolina
What a delightful book. Who would think that reading about a bird's life would be enjoyable?
I remember years ago when I lived in Del Mar, Ca I had stopped in a used bookstore some where between Del Mar and Encinitas. On a lower shelf I found many old nature books and bought them all. It seemed like they had been someone's collection as they were very old and all together. Perhaps someone had died and a relative had sent them to the used store to be sold. I only remember two of them because I had read them immediately. One was about a pet hummingbird, and the other was about a t raccoon. When we moved I had to get rid of them because we were downsizing. I wish that I had at least written down the names of the books. But here it is many years later, and I am collecting nature books. I found the one about the hummingbird and then the one about the raccoon. Of course, while these books are fun to read they all have sad endings, which is why I haven't read but one, "A Seal Called Andre," and well, this one.
This little bird was named Clarence. The author found him when he was a baby that had fallen from his nest. He had some injuries that had never healed enough for him to be let loose into the wilderness. And as amazing as it was, he survived. I was never able to get a bird to survive whenever I had found one, but I have a friend here that found a baby robin and fed him, and he lived. Now I know where to take a baby bird or who to ask how to feed it. My friend let him outside when he was almost grown, and he could go in and out of his cage. He would fly onto her head, which was amazing to see. Then one day he flew away and never returned.
What was amazing about this little sparrow in the book is that he learned to sing, and sparrows don't sing. He lived with the author for 12 years, and during the bombing of England they both survived, and she often took him to a shelter to entertain children. And so the little story goes on.
Here is a recipe for feeding birds suet from Birds and Bloom magazine:
Pseudo Suet Recipe
I work at a Wild Birds Unlimited store, and I’m always encouraging my customers to make their own recipes filled with fat (rather than sugars and grains) to best benefit the birds. Here’s my simple method for making suet-type food.
2 cups shelled, unsalted peanuts
½ cup raisins
2 to 3 tablespoons cornmeal
Process peanuts in a food processor until they’re the consistency of peanut butter. Then add the raisins and process for another minute. Add the cornmeal and process again. Press this mixture into a mold of your choice. This recipe will have the greatest nutritional value for your feathered friends. -Linda Popejoy, Concord, North Carolina
December 5, 2019
This was a random 50p find at the Hay-on-Wye market on our last trip. In July 1940 Kipps adopted a house sparrow that had fallen out of the nest – or, perhaps, been thrown out for having a deformed wing and foot. Clarence became her beloved pet, living for just over 12 years until dying of old age. A former professional musician, Kipps served as an air-raid warden during the war; she and Clarence had a couple of close shaves and had to evacuate London at one point. Clarence sang more beautifully than the average sparrow and could do a card trick and play dead. He loved to nestle inside Kipps’s blouse and join her for naps under the duvet. At age 11 he had a stroke, but vet attention (and champagne) kept him going for another year, though with less vitality. This is sweet but not saccharine, and holds interest for its window onto domesticated birds’ behavior. With photos, and a foreword by Julian Huxley.
April 23, 2016
This charming book is a little gem and a sheer delight to read. It tells the tale of a common house sparrow that was rescued by the author and lived with her for 12 years, from shortly after his birth until his death.
July 29, 2016
A delightful book containing charming reminiscences about the escapades of an Arabian mongoose that the author rescued from an abusive situation who lived with her as a pet for approximately three years.
March 22, 2024
In July, 1940, Clare Kipps found a newly hatched sparrow on her doorstep. Its eyes were still closed. It had no feathers. She took it inside, put it in a soft bed after feeding it a little warm milk and went to bed thinking it would die that night. The sparrow was awake and happy in the morning.
The sparrow named Clarence was her friend and companion for over twelve years. He was in many ways a typical house sparrow. In other ways he did things no other sparrow was known to do such as sing a song. Through the Blitz, Clarence entertained people with little tricks as they sheltered from the bombing.
This little book tells Clarence's story as he grows up, ages and gets old. It is fast, easy reading. The details are interesting and told in an objective fashion. Clarence was truly a special bird.
The sparrow named Clarence was her friend and companion for over twelve years. He was in many ways a typical house sparrow. In other ways he did things no other sparrow was known to do such as sing a song. Through the Blitz, Clarence entertained people with little tricks as they sheltered from the bombing.
This little book tells Clarence's story as he grows up, ages and gets old. It is fast, easy reading. The details are interesting and told in an objective fashion. Clarence was truly a special bird.
June 23, 2023
Cute story, but I have to admit there were many references I didn't get since it was written so long ago. There were several really great quotes and a few life lessons.
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December 9, 2023Liefdevolle beschrijving van de lotgevallen van een geadopteerde huismus in het Londen van de Tweede Wereldoorlog en daarna.
March 31, 2024
Odd little book, thought it would be an Improving Short Story about an orphan or something - no, but entertaining and in a very clear idiom of its time.
December 16, 2012
An interesting premise for a book, but sadly I don't agree with the reviewers who seem to love the book so much. Some of the details of wartime life were noteworthy, but I really couildn't drum up much sympathy for the narrator. Others may feel otherwise.
April 8, 2013
I loved this book as a child, it was my Grandfathers copy. Re-reading it was nostalgic, I must have ignored the religious references when youngr!
May 11, 2013
A fun easy read about a crippled English sparrow who lived as a pet for 12 years in WWII and post war England. Clarence was smarter and more affectionate than you would expect a sparrow to be.
March 2, 2015
Just I read this book and I have enjoyed it even when I cry in the end.I recommend this book to animal lovers. Is a story of unconditional love from a amazing bird to his owner.
February 17, 2018
Excellent book. I will never look at a House Sparrow in the same way as I did before. This book has created a fondness for this common bird.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews