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Now I'm a Bird
Mom's Choice Award 2021 - Gold Level
Story Monsters Approved Book of the Year Award 2022
Firebird Book Awards - Juvenile Fiction First Place 2021
Firebird Book Awards - Picture Book for All Ages 2021
It isn't easy to be the only kid in school who's a bird. Then again, you can fly!
Julianna didn't mean to be a bird. It just happened, feather by feather. "It's a rare and beautiful condition," explains the note her mom sends to school, though it doesn’t help with the teasing. But Julianna’s wings take her to places she hadn’t imagined, with a birds-eye view that gives her a new perspective and the courage to find a flock of her own. Told with kid-friendly humor and heart, this is a unique story about embracing the wild and wonderful parts of ourselves and others.
Story Monsters Approved Book of the Year Award 2022
Firebird Book Awards - Juvenile Fiction First Place 2021
Firebird Book Awards - Picture Book for All Ages 2021
It isn't easy to be the only kid in school who's a bird. Then again, you can fly!
Julianna didn't mean to be a bird. It just happened, feather by feather. "It's a rare and beautiful condition," explains the note her mom sends to school, though it doesn’t help with the teasing. But Julianna’s wings take her to places she hadn’t imagined, with a birds-eye view that gives her a new perspective and the courage to find a flock of her own. Told with kid-friendly humor and heart, this is a unique story about embracing the wild and wonderful parts of ourselves and others.
- GenresPicture Books
32 pages, Hardcover
Published October 1, 2020
27 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
June 17, 2020
This is such a wonderful book that celebrates the uniqueness of each individual child. The story begins with a young girl named Julianna who experiences something very interesting one day--she slowly turns into a bird! This transformation starts out feather by feather. This begins first on her arms, then spreads to her shoulders and back, and pretty soon she is covered in feathers. This is something very unique to Julianna and is not always received well by other children because it is so unusual. The other kids at school tease her and ask silly questions such as if she can lay eggs or does she like to eat worms. Her mother even writes a letter to other parents--”My daughter Julianna looks like a bird. It’s a rare and beautiful condition. Please discuss this with your child.” Children continue to tease her and chase her on the playground until she uses her wings to fly high into the sky and home to her loving and understanding parents. Julianna soon realizes that she does not need the approval of other children to feel valued and she stands up for herself. She starts making new friends--one who has lizard legs and another who has a tail like a fox. Both of her new friends say that they did not ask for these unique features but it just happened. Now, the new friends are unique and wonderful together.
What I really liked about the illustrations in this book is that they conveyed the strong emotions of the different children in a situation like this. Julianna goes from trying to accept her unique features, to feeling ashamed and embarrassed, to feeling proud that she is unique. We see children with a smirk on their face but also others showing some compassion and understanding. I think all of this will help children see how being teased for your uniqueness can really be a negative and unkind gesture.
What I really liked about the illustrations in this book is that they conveyed the strong emotions of the different children in a situation like this. Julianna goes from trying to accept her unique features, to feeling ashamed and embarrassed, to feeling proud that she is unique. We see children with a smirk on their face but also others showing some compassion and understanding. I think all of this will help children see how being teased for your uniqueness can really be a negative and unkind gesture.
August 7, 2020
Mom's Review
A whimsical celebration of physical differences.
When a little girl grows feathers, she fears going to school because she looks different from her classmate. At first she is teased, but she realizes how small-minded the bullies are. She stands up to them and a bystander supports her. The bystander reveals that she also has a physical difference, and soon all the children exhibit their uniqueness.
I am ambivalent about Now I'm a Bird. I'm not sure what I think about the children having animal characteristics (feather, horns, scales, tails, etc.). On the one hand, standing up to bullies and gaining self confidence is great. Children in this book model positive problem-solving skills. On the other hand, the children aren't realistic. T understood the book's message: treat everyone with respect and don't discriminate against people who look different. A book with fully human characters would certainly have been heavier. And the messaging is pretty obvious as is. And it opens the door for conversation about prejudice. But I still have reservations about non-human characters being used to foster emotional and social intelligence.* Because the children in this book are part human and part animal, I'm not sure what to think, other than that conversation should accompany reading.
*A 2017 study demonstrates that human characters are more effective at teaching moral behavior than non-human characters are: https://neurosciencenews.com/child-re...
Son's Review
(Age: 5)
It's silly. You're not actually able to turn into a bird. [The author tells us] that no matter how you look, you still have some things that are the same. I like it. I thought it was funny. I felt happy.
Note: Albert Whitman & Co. provided a review copy in exchange for an honest review.
A whimsical celebration of physical differences.
When a little girl grows feathers, she fears going to school because she looks different from her classmate. At first she is teased, but she realizes how small-minded the bullies are. She stands up to them and a bystander supports her. The bystander reveals that she also has a physical difference, and soon all the children exhibit their uniqueness.
I am ambivalent about Now I'm a Bird. I'm not sure what I think about the children having animal characteristics (feather, horns, scales, tails, etc.). On the one hand, standing up to bullies and gaining self confidence is great. Children in this book model positive problem-solving skills. On the other hand, the children aren't realistic. T understood the book's message: treat everyone with respect and don't discriminate against people who look different. A book with fully human characters would certainly have been heavier. And the messaging is pretty obvious as is. And it opens the door for conversation about prejudice. But I still have reservations about non-human characters being used to foster emotional and social intelligence.* Because the children in this book are part human and part animal, I'm not sure what to think, other than that conversation should accompany reading.
*A 2017 study demonstrates that human characters are more effective at teaching moral behavior than non-human characters are: https://neurosciencenews.com/child-re...
Son's Review
(Age: 5)
It's silly. You're not actually able to turn into a bird. [The author tells us] that no matter how you look, you still have some things that are the same. I like it. I thought it was funny. I felt happy.
Note: Albert Whitman & Co. provided a review copy in exchange for an honest review.
October 9, 2020
As a pediatric occupational therapist I am always searching for FUN, COLORFUL books for young children that help launch discussions about feeling "different". This book is written with such a deep and wide sense of the challenges with feeling different - I can not express how much I love it for my young patients!!! This sensitive but playful book somehow manages to address the challenge of being different in a way that really resonates, especially with those children I see that have autism. Weeks-long discussions about OTHER children having their OWN ways of being "different" have been initiated by this exquisite book. I can not recommend it highly enough for ANY child... we all feel "different" and we all need to see each other as wanting to be respected and cherished for our unique qualities. This book is really special, that's why I am taking the time to write this review. Recommended!
October 13, 2020
I received an electronic ARC from Albert Whitman & Company through Edelweiss+.
Julianna didn't plan to become a bird but slowly the feathers appeared and she learned to soar. I love this description of a child becoming who they are meant to be. Ganz-Schmitt captures the joy and pain involved in this process. The ending is powerful as readers see that everyone is unique in some way. The illustration capture these obvious differences with feathers, fur, skin, etc. She offers a gentle look at bullies and shows how small they can be when you change your perspective.
A terrific group read to talk about how we're all special and have our own gifts to share.
Julianna didn't plan to become a bird but slowly the feathers appeared and she learned to soar. I love this description of a child becoming who they are meant to be. Ganz-Schmitt captures the joy and pain involved in this process. The ending is powerful as readers see that everyone is unique in some way. The illustration capture these obvious differences with feathers, fur, skin, etc. She offers a gentle look at bullies and shows how small they can be when you change your perspective.
A terrific group read to talk about how we're all special and have our own gifts to share.
October 13, 2020
Julianna isn't at all happy when her feathers start to sprout. Soon there are so many she doesn't want to go to school. But her father has faith in her ability to handle the situation: "I know you can wing it!" Her schoolmates ask rude questions, such as "Where's your beak?" "Can you lay eggs?" and "Do you like worms?" Julianna flies away, but when she courageously returns to face the taunts, she is defended by another different sort of girl, with whom she makes friends. A highly original take on coping with being different, illustrated with colorful, conventional images that create a nice counterpoint to the story.
April 26, 2021
This book has a delightfully strange vibe in that its main character turns into a bird. Other kids ask a lot of questions, look at her funny, and make fun of her. This is tough. [SPOILER ALERT: She ends up standing up for herself and making friends with other children who also have peculiar conditions.]
This could be interpreted as a book reminding children to accept differences, maybe due to disabilities, or gender, or race or country of origin etc... It can definitely be used to spur discussions on accepting others.
Other people may just see this story as amusingly odd. Either way, it works.
This could be interpreted as a book reminding children to accept differences, maybe due to disabilities, or gender, or race or country of origin etc... It can definitely be used to spur discussions on accepting others.
Other people may just see this story as amusingly odd. Either way, it works.
October 1, 2020
When Julianna suddenly sprouts feathers--and more and more feathers--the remarkable change takes her by surprise! It's not easy to face the curiosity of her classmates, but Julianna finds her way to acceptance with courage and humor--and discovers that others have surprising special qualities, too. She's a bird now, but she's found her flock! This sweet and simple fantasy artfully disguises an important metaphor: We're all unique--and sometimes surprising--but we can all find peace and a place to belong.
October 1, 2020
Juilanna has unexpectedly sprouted feathers, growing into a new version of herself—one that is met with both people who would ground her and people who would lift her up to soar. Now I’m A Bird is a beautiful story about giving flight to the wild and wonderfully unique parts of ourselves. With gorgeous illustrations, Now I’m A Bird is an absolute delight!
May 11, 2021
A great story about a human girl who starts becoming a bird, her parents support her and send out letters to the parents in her class asking for acceptance, at school she flees from their bullying but eventually stands up for herself and finds a group of friends who are also different (lizard, rabbit, fox, etc).
March 12, 2023
I love this story of inclusion and how it shows compassion, confidence, being frightened, perspective and ultimately acceptance. The other friends and their differences at the end is a nice twist. I love the statement of one of the kids "We're all something." We're all unique!
June 28, 2020
Celebrate your differences, even if you’re a bird. Or perhaps a lizard.
July 19, 2020
This is a solid story about celebrating differences and having the courage to be unapologetically yourself.*
*I received an uncorrected proof in exchange for an honest review.
*I received an uncorrected proof in exchange for an honest review.
October 12, 2020
A sweet story about valuing differences in ourselves and others and treasuring friends who like us for what we are. Bold, colorful illustrations by Renia Metallinou make this book a visual treat!
November 11, 2020
Loved it! What a cute book about being different!
November 13, 2020
Adorable story, colorful illustrations, and a beautiful message about individuality. Embrace who you are and find your true flock!
November 14, 2020
Lovely bibliotherapeutic book about being true to yourself, especially when you're different.
October 27, 2022
So sweet and gentle. An utterly delightful read.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews