The Swallow Who Stayed

by Philip Giordano

A gorgeously illustrated story of a swallow who goes against the flock, and the wonderful friendship that emerges from her decision. For kids 3-7, The Swallow Who Stayed is a beautiful celebration of the seasons and what happens when we have the courage to be different.Iris asked the other birds, “What happens to the forest when we leave?”But nobody knew the answer. No swallow had ever stayed long enough to see.It’s time for the swallows to fly South for the winter. But not for Iris, a curious swallow, who has always wondered what the winter is like and decides to stay. One by one, the leaves fall from the trees and the cold begins to settle. Soon an icy wind blows and big snowflakes tumble from the sky. Maybe staying for the winter was a mistake… Though everything changes when Iris stumbles into the home of a squirrel.With Philip Giordano’s geometric art, this heartfelt story shares the incredible surprises that happen when we dare to do something different, and celebrates a friendship that lasts through the seasons.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Animals

48 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2017

About the author

Born in 1980 in a small coastal town in Liguria, Italy, to a Filipina mother and Swiss father, Philip Giordano is a tireless globetrotter, who now lives and works in Tokyo. After studying at the Brera Academy of Fine Arts and at the European Institute of Design, he earned a Master in Animation in Turin. He works for a number of magazines and publishing houses around the world, illustrating book covers, designing toys, and creating children's books and animations.

Reviews

[Jessica Kluthe · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Swallow Who Stayed is told through a bold, graphic style. This visual feast moves through the seasons and all of nature’s hues, to reveal two larger themes: that of steady friendship and of listening to oneself.

Iris, the Swallow, wonders, “What happens to the forest when [the birds] leave?” Guided by the need to answer this question, Iris breaks from the flock and decides that this year she wants to stay put.

Yet, winter, despite its beauty, makes Iris cold and tired. Luckily, Iris finds warmth in a friendship with Sam, the Squirrel. Sam is well-versed in the ways of winter — and takes care of his new friend until spring returns. The next year, Iris decides she will migrate, but does so on her own terms and with having experienced all of the seasons and after gaining a steady, enduring friendship to return to.

This beautiful book has been translated from French — it’s tightly written and makes room for the illustrations to appeal to the knowing we have about each season and the way their distinct colours remind us of our own experiences: of growth, of slowing down, of abundance… I highly recommend this stand-out book!

Thank you to the publisher for gifting my family this review copy.

Author and illustrator: @pilipo_

[YSBR · Rating 4 out of 5]

A modern fable about an iconoclastic swallow who decides to stay. Iris watches as all the other birds prepare to fly south but longs to experience winter for herself. An old friend fortuitously gives her a golden acorn necklace, which saves her life when the forest takes on its autumnal blaze but then becomes a beautiful though deadly white blanket. Saved by Sam the squirrel, Iris spends several cozy months in his tree house, but knows that next time, “she would join the other birds on the long journey south.” Girdano’s stylish, retro, and streamlined mixed media illustrations occupy long vertical pages, mimicing the swooping flight of the swallows and give plenty of space for his simplified natural landscapes. Finding Iris in the early busy pages and anticipating what will happen to her as the first snowflake appears will make this book engaging for readers ages 3-6. The idea of following your dreams and experiencing consequences, but also being able to find help from unexpected quarters will be a welcome message. Link to complete review: https://ysbookreviews.wordpress.com/2...

[Amelia Crane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very sweet story! Great story in regards to friendships

[Syntha Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely turn of phrase

[Miss Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bird decides to stay during winter admiring all the changes and making a new friend. Simple text and bright pictures. Preschool and up

[Drine Psylook · Rating 5 out of 5]

Je trouve les planches magnifiques. Les couleurs sont aussi chaleureuses qu’harmonieuses, les textures sont fascinantes et j’ai adoré m’y arrêter.
Sans compter que j’aime beaucoup le character design des personnages.
Je crois qu’il n’y a pas un seul dessin que je n’ai pas aimé observer.
Les enfants ont bien aimé, quant à moi, j’ai pris énormément de plaisir à lire et relire cette lecture. C’est un coup de cœur.
https://psylook.kimengumi.fr/2019/01/...