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The Magical, Wonderful Bul Bul Bird
When a lonely king sends his sons on a quest to find the magical, wonderful Bul Bul Bird, they mysteriously vanish, leaving their courageous sister to embark on a perilous journey to uncover the truth and restore joy to the kingdom.
In this enchanting, lyrical retelling of a timeless fairy tale, master storyteller Jonathan Kruk weaves a tale of courage, mystery, and wonder brought to life with lush, vintage-inspired illustrations that will captivate children and adults alike.
In this enchanting, lyrical retelling of a timeless fairy tale, master storyteller Jonathan Kruk weaves a tale of courage, mystery, and wonder brought to life with lush, vintage-inspired illustrations that will captivate children and adults alike.
64 pages, Hardcover
Published November 4, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
September 10, 2025
Magical? Yes, a magical message and magically, beautifully illustrated.
Lonely King Krauklis heartily wishes he’d get more visitors to his isolated kingdom. His youngest and only daughter, Princess Sofija, suggests that the magical Bul Bul Bird would attract many visitors to the palace. When her obnoxious older brothers, Princes Koku and Balt, fail, it’s the clever Sofija who not only brings the Bul Bul Bird to her father, but solves more than one case of loneliness. A picture book so delightful that parents will treasure it more than their children. Highly, highly recommended.
Author Jonathan Kruk has coined the word “boombosity,” as in a prince “slipped off the mountain, and slid on his boombosity all the way down into the village below.” I will treasure that word always.
In the interest of full disclosure, I received this book from NetGalley and 4U2B Books & Media in exchange for an honest review.
Lonely King Krauklis heartily wishes he’d get more visitors to his isolated kingdom. His youngest and only daughter, Princess Sofija, suggests that the magical Bul Bul Bird would attract many visitors to the palace. When her obnoxious older brothers, Princes Koku and Balt, fail, it’s the clever Sofija who not only brings the Bul Bul Bird to her father, but solves more than one case of loneliness. A picture book so delightful that parents will treasure it more than their children. Highly, highly recommended.
Author Jonathan Kruk has coined the word “boombosity,” as in a prince “slipped off the mountain, and slid on his boombosity all the way down into the village below.” I will treasure that word always.
In the interest of full disclosure, I received this book from NetGalley and 4U2B Books & Media in exchange for an honest review.
October 16, 2025
I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC.
This is a fun read with some fantastic themes. I enjoyed the portayal of the king and him mourning. I also liked the theme of arrogance and how it is handled in this story. The illustrations are nicely down by the illustrator and I really enjoyed how color was used in this book.
This is a fun read with some fantastic themes. I enjoyed the portayal of the king and him mourning. I also liked the theme of arrogance and how it is handled in this story. The illustrations are nicely down by the illustrator and I really enjoyed how color was used in this book.
March 3, 2026
The Magical Wonderful Bul Bul Bird
By Jonathan Kruk and illustrated by Rob Bridges
This book is, itself, magical for several reasons. First, it is a charming story based on a Latvian folktale. King Kraukis is feeling lonely. He’s got his children with him, Prince Koku, Prince Balt, and Princess Sofija, but he is still feeling lonely. You see, his castle seems to be too far away for anyone to visit, so he is lonely. But then Princess Sofija has the best of ideas; she tells her father about the Magical Wonderful Bul Bul Bird, and if they had this bird, people would come from far and wide to see its beauty. The eldest prince is determined to find the bird and bring it back, but when he doesn’t return, the second prince vows to find his brother and bring the bird back himself. But when the second brother doesn’t return, the “prudent” princess Sofija goes (something she had wanted to do all along, but was dismayed to find she is a girl). Does she find her brothers? Is the Bul Bul bird dangerous? Will the princess return to her father alive?
The second reason this book is magical, at least for me, is its absolutely charming vocabulary. In particular, it uses complex words that children will enjoy pronouncing and learning, such as "prudent, azure, sovereign, boombosity, pompous, imperious." This delight in language is why I love it when children’s books include challenging yet fun vocabulary.
And the third is the illustrations. The artist Rob Bridges' illustrations remind me of the old pictures you’d find in fairytale books, intricate, odd, fantastical and sometimes a little creepy!
This book is a special addition to any children's library.
Thank you to Netgalley and 4U2B Books and MediaFor the copy,
By Jonathan Kruk and illustrated by Rob Bridges
This book is, itself, magical for several reasons. First, it is a charming story based on a Latvian folktale. King Kraukis is feeling lonely. He’s got his children with him, Prince Koku, Prince Balt, and Princess Sofija, but he is still feeling lonely. You see, his castle seems to be too far away for anyone to visit, so he is lonely. But then Princess Sofija has the best of ideas; she tells her father about the Magical Wonderful Bul Bul Bird, and if they had this bird, people would come from far and wide to see its beauty. The eldest prince is determined to find the bird and bring it back, but when he doesn’t return, the second prince vows to find his brother and bring the bird back himself. But when the second brother doesn’t return, the “prudent” princess Sofija goes (something she had wanted to do all along, but was dismayed to find she is a girl). Does she find her brothers? Is the Bul Bul bird dangerous? Will the princess return to her father alive?
The second reason this book is magical, at least for me, is its absolutely charming vocabulary. In particular, it uses complex words that children will enjoy pronouncing and learning, such as "prudent, azure, sovereign, boombosity, pompous, imperious." This delight in language is why I love it when children’s books include challenging yet fun vocabulary.
And the third is the illustrations. The artist Rob Bridges' illustrations remind me of the old pictures you’d find in fairytale books, intricate, odd, fantastical and sometimes a little creepy!
This book is a special addition to any children's library.
Thank you to Netgalley and 4U2B Books and MediaFor the copy,
August 23, 2025
Thank you, Netgalley, for an advanced readers copy of this book for an honest review
This is a short children's book about a king and his children, they go to find the Magical bird and danger happens.
The messages of this story are that power and arrogance go hand in hand, because the two princes think they are more important and nothing will happen to them & through this attitude, we see their downfall 1 at a time. Self-awareness and respect cost nothing & by thinking they know better causes their fate, we see the princess (Their sister) go off to find the magical bird when they have not returned, but she goes out with a different attitude and awareness not seeing herself better than others & grateful for advice and guidance. She finds the bird but also follows the advice & with this she can go up to the bird and find out the truth about her brothers and the bird.
Loneliness is also a message in this book and it shows what some do to keep others around, and when two lonely souls meet it changes both their worlds 🌎 for the better no matter if they are human or animal.
I can see this being a book that you can ask questions during reading to ur child and see what they get out of the story.
highly enjoyed
This is a short children's book about a king and his children, they go to find the Magical bird and danger happens.
The messages of this story are that power and arrogance go hand in hand, because the two princes think they are more important and nothing will happen to them & through this attitude, we see their downfall 1 at a time. Self-awareness and respect cost nothing & by thinking they know better causes their fate, we see the princess (Their sister) go off to find the magical bird when they have not returned, but she goes out with a different attitude and awareness not seeing herself better than others & grateful for advice and guidance. She finds the bird but also follows the advice & with this she can go up to the bird and find out the truth about her brothers and the bird.
Loneliness is also a message in this book and it shows what some do to keep others around, and when two lonely souls meet it changes both their worlds 🌎 for the better no matter if they are human or animal.
I can see this being a book that you can ask questions during reading to ur child and see what they get out of the story.
highly enjoyed
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 25, 2025
The Magical, Wonderful Bul Bul Bird (Hardcover)
by Jonathan Kruk Rob Bridges
The book shows that listening to the whole story can make you survive. A lonely kings, and two impetuous brothers find they are not seeing the whole story. It takes the sister and her patience to listen to understand the mystery of the world.
The art work is wonderful, with remarkable execution.
by Jonathan Kruk Rob Bridges
The book shows that listening to the whole story can make you survive. A lonely kings, and two impetuous brothers find they are not seeing the whole story. It takes the sister and her patience to listen to understand the mystery of the world.
The art work is wonderful, with remarkable execution.
October 26, 2025
The author explains at the end how he came to write this retelling, and it's interesting what cultural aspects changed over time. The illustrations are gorgeous and the story is captivating -- the princess is told to stay at home while her brothers go on a quest, but she ends up saving everyone and coming up with the best ending of all.
September 1, 2025
A delight — just like the storyteller himself. Especially loved the Hitchcockian note on page 31!
March 20, 2026
Huge thanks for the ARC to NetGalley and to 4U2B & Media.
What a perfect, whimsical tale about loneliness and sadness, as well as hope and redemption.
In a castle located in a Latvian village, during the times of kings and princes and princesses, of magic and enchantments, there lived a very sad, lonely and isolated king. His 3 children--2 elder princes, and the 3rd, his youngest, the princess--were all the king had for company in the seldom-visited castle they called home.
One day, as the king lamented his forlorn circumstances, he wished aloud for a very special, stunning and magical bird. The king was certain that if he could take possession of this Magical Bul Bul Bird, throngs of curious visitors would come calling, in an effort to come and see the magical bird for themselves, and his days of isolation, emptiness and loneliness would completely disappear: He would have all the company he could dream of, if only he could get his hands on the magical creature.
His children volunteer for the quest, each in turn, until one of them finally succeeds, bringing an end to loneliness and isolation not only for their father, the king, but for many others as well.
I would have fallen in love with this book had I found it in my childhood years. It is a story that is timeless and hopeful; it is about family, gratitude, life.
Issues like feelings, whether of sadness, of loneliness and isolation, are difficult enough for adults to discuss readily, so children must have a particularly difficult time being able to put words to them. Children's books such Kruk's dreamy fairy tale can help children become aware of feelings, and also pave the way for having some kind of conversation about feelings with their loved ones.
The illustrations in this book, by Rob Bridges, are sublime! Reading each rhyme-ful page, looking at every gorgeous drawing (every other page is an illustration!), I couldn't help feeling like a child again.
This book is a treasure for children--AND for their adults.
What a perfect, whimsical tale about loneliness and sadness, as well as hope and redemption.
In a castle located in a Latvian village, during the times of kings and princes and princesses, of magic and enchantments, there lived a very sad, lonely and isolated king. His 3 children--2 elder princes, and the 3rd, his youngest, the princess--were all the king had for company in the seldom-visited castle they called home.
One day, as the king lamented his forlorn circumstances, he wished aloud for a very special, stunning and magical bird. The king was certain that if he could take possession of this Magical Bul Bul Bird, throngs of curious visitors would come calling, in an effort to come and see the magical bird for themselves, and his days of isolation, emptiness and loneliness would completely disappear: He would have all the company he could dream of, if only he could get his hands on the magical creature.
His children volunteer for the quest, each in turn, until one of them finally succeeds, bringing an end to loneliness and isolation not only for their father, the king, but for many others as well.
I would have fallen in love with this book had I found it in my childhood years. It is a story that is timeless and hopeful; it is about family, gratitude, life.
Issues like feelings, whether of sadness, of loneliness and isolation, are difficult enough for adults to discuss readily, so children must have a particularly difficult time being able to put words to them. Children's books such Kruk's dreamy fairy tale can help children become aware of feelings, and also pave the way for having some kind of conversation about feelings with their loved ones.
The illustrations in this book, by Rob Bridges, are sublime! Reading each rhyme-ful page, looking at every gorgeous drawing (every other page is an illustration!), I couldn't help feeling like a child again.
This book is a treasure for children--AND for their adults.
March 20, 2026
I wasn’t familiar with the original folk tale, so I approached this with no preconceived notions.
The story is, indeed, vary fable-like in its structure and themes, which I think always adds more charm to children’s books. The topic of loneliness and the fear of it is a great one; one that can aid plenty of kids and offer them some comfort. The main conflict resolution is also a great moral to spread, with the princess being able to save her brothers and other people by being humble and listening to advice from others.
The end notes were also interesting! I loved the brief explanation about how the author came to this version of events, how he built this with the participation of other children. It made me appreciate this book even more, and I’m now quite curious about his other works.
Other than that, the illustrations pair up pretty well with the plot, while still retaining a unique style. I enjoyed it because it’s definitely not the standard of children’s books — the colour schemes are monochromatic and a bit subdued, and the designs of the characters are not simplistic. Expressions are conveyed with plenty of clarity and expertise; and the world shown to us through the pictures easily immerses us into the story.
The story is, indeed, vary fable-like in its structure and themes, which I think always adds more charm to children’s books. The topic of loneliness and the fear of it is a great one; one that can aid plenty of kids and offer them some comfort. The main conflict resolution is also a great moral to spread, with the princess being able to save her brothers and other people by being humble and listening to advice from others.
The end notes were also interesting! I loved the brief explanation about how the author came to this version of events, how he built this with the participation of other children. It made me appreciate this book even more, and I’m now quite curious about his other works.
Other than that, the illustrations pair up pretty well with the plot, while still retaining a unique style. I enjoyed it because it’s definitely not the standard of children’s books — the colour schemes are monochromatic and a bit subdued, and the designs of the characters are not simplistic. Expressions are conveyed with plenty of clarity and expertise; and the world shown to us through the pictures easily immerses us into the story.
February 7, 2026
I really enjoyed this retelling of a classic Latvian tale.
This story is based on a Latvian Lore told by Bitite Vickers back in 1891 and it seems to have been retold various times since, with this being the latest. The author does explain at the end of the story how he came to become the storyteller for this version and it was interesting to note the changes that he has made and the reasons why.
Whilst I wasn't a huge fan of the dark illustrations, they are in keeping with the tale being told and they do work well with the story to bring it all to life for the reader.
The story is one that hold your attention, whilst I guessed what would happen after the first few pages, it was still a book I read from cover to cover in one sitting and we have talked about the story and its more hidden meanings after. It has some great messaging for slightly older kids, younger ones it will go a little over their heads I believe but it would be great for older Primary School children - the ending was great.
It is 4 stars from me for this one - a great twist and retelling of a traditional classical tale - highly recommended!
This story is based on a Latvian Lore told by Bitite Vickers back in 1891 and it seems to have been retold various times since, with this being the latest. The author does explain at the end of the story how he came to become the storyteller for this version and it was interesting to note the changes that he has made and the reasons why.
Whilst I wasn't a huge fan of the dark illustrations, they are in keeping with the tale being told and they do work well with the story to bring it all to life for the reader.
The story is one that hold your attention, whilst I guessed what would happen after the first few pages, it was still a book I read from cover to cover in one sitting and we have talked about the story and its more hidden meanings after. It has some great messaging for slightly older kids, younger ones it will go a little over their heads I believe but it would be great for older Primary School children - the ending was great.
It is 4 stars from me for this one - a great twist and retelling of a traditional classical tale - highly recommended!
January 7, 2026
A Lyrical, Timeless Fairy Tale Filled With Wonder and Courage
The Magical, Wonderful Bul Bul Bird is a beautifully told, enchanting fairy tale that celebrates bravery, curiosity, and the quiet power of hope. Jonathan Kruk’s lyrical storytelling feels timeless, inviting readers into a world of mystery and magic where courage is rewarded and joy can be restored. What stands out most is the harmony between the evocative prose and Rob Bridges’s lush, vintage inspired illustrations, which elevate the story into a true keepsake for children and adults alike. This is a book meant to be read aloud, cherished, and returned to across generations.
The Magical, Wonderful Bul Bul Bird is a beautifully told, enchanting fairy tale that celebrates bravery, curiosity, and the quiet power of hope. Jonathan Kruk’s lyrical storytelling feels timeless, inviting readers into a world of mystery and magic where courage is rewarded and joy can be restored. What stands out most is the harmony between the evocative prose and Rob Bridges’s lush, vintage inspired illustrations, which elevate the story into a true keepsake for children and adults alike. This is a book meant to be read aloud, cherished, and returned to across generations.
September 19, 2025
Thank you NetGalley and 4U2B Books for the ARC!
The Magical, Wonderful Bul Bul Bird is a picture book about a king who wishes for a bul bul bird.
This book is the perfect nostalgia read if you grew up in the 90s or 2000s. The illustrations are very reminiscent of picture books that I grew up reading, and the adventure is easy to understand while having some underlying messages about toxic masculinity and feminism.
I would have devoured this book as a child, and I highly recommend this if you or your kids read picture books.
CW: mild sexism; mild body horror
The Magical, Wonderful Bul Bul Bird is a picture book about a king who wishes for a bul bul bird.
This book is the perfect nostalgia read if you grew up in the 90s or 2000s. The illustrations are very reminiscent of picture books that I grew up reading, and the adventure is easy to understand while having some underlying messages about toxic masculinity and feminism.
I would have devoured this book as a child, and I highly recommend this if you or your kids read picture books.
CW: mild sexism; mild body horror
January 4, 2026
The illustrations in this book are phenomenal—they made me nostalgic and reminded me of simpler times when I was little. Though it's a children's book, I wasn't bored for a minute. It brings a gentle but powerful awareness of loneliness: not even being the most beautiful bird in the woods can keep it away, and not even being the richest, most powerful king can escape it. The real magic in this story lies in the message that simply being with others is what truly matters. This is a wonderful little folktale, and I definitely recommend it.
October 23, 2025
This story reminded me a lot of one from the Arabian Nights, where people get turned into stone instead of trees. The Talking Bird, the Singing Tree, and the Golden Water, I think.
ARC from Netgalley.
ARC from Netgalley.
March 16, 2026
Rich story, elegant illustrations. Keeping with traditional inspiration and modern sensibilities, the author and illustrator made an interesting tale.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews