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Yellow Bird and me
In a sequel to The Gift-Giver, Doris reluctantly starts helping Yellow Bird, the class clown, with his reading problem. To her surprise, Doris finds that in caring for and helping Bird, she develops a new friend. "Smoothly written and easy to read; the language with touches of colloquial black English, has strength and vitality . . . the story is particularly valuable for its emphasis on friendship, generosity of spirit, and seeing what's below the surface." -- Kirkus Reviews
- GenresMiddle Grade
155 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published April 1, 1986
About the author
Joyce Hansen
45 books42 followersJoyce Hansen has been writing books and stories for children and young adults for over twenty years. Joyce was born and raised in New York City, the setting of her early contemporary novels. She grew up with two younger brothers and her parents in an extended family that included aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents, all living nearby in the Morrisania section of the Bronx.
Attending Bronx public schools, she graduated from Theodore Roosevelt High School in 1960. While working secretarial jobs during the day, Joyce attended Pace University in New York City at night, receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree. She then began her teaching career in the New York City public schools and earned a Master of Arts degree from New York University. She also taught writing and literature at Empire State College (State University of New York).
Joyce’s first children’s book, The Gift-Giver, published in 1980, was inspired by her own Bronx childhood and by her students. She continued to teach and write until retiring from teaching in 1995. Joyce Hansen presently lives in South Carolina with her husband and writes full-time.
Attending Bronx public schools, she graduated from Theodore Roosevelt High School in 1960. While working secretarial jobs during the day, Joyce attended Pace University in New York City at night, receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree. She then began her teaching career in the New York City public schools and earned a Master of Arts degree from New York University. She also taught writing and literature at Empire State College (State University of New York).
Joyce’s first children’s book, The Gift-Giver, published in 1980, was inspired by her own Bronx childhood and by her students. She continued to teach and write until retiring from teaching in 1995. Joyce Hansen presently lives in South Carolina with her husband and writes full-time.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
June 10, 2022
This was an easy book to read and rather relaxing too. The core of this story is about friendship. And that you should give people a chance. Maybe from a distance you think someone is kind of strange or they act a bit differently but once you get to know them they are actually a very good friend. Plus maybe they have a reason for acting that way.
Yellow Bird does. He acts kind of silly because he doesn't know how to read. And he is smart too! But he also knows he should be able to read but he can't. The words won't stay still on the page. They sometimes swirl around or he reads them backwards. And sometimes if he wants to write the number "21" he might write "12" instead. But he acts silly because he is trying to hide this problem! Because it is embarrassing. And his teacher is very strict so he is always in trouble.
And so we meet Doris. She thinks Bird is strange and kind of annoying too. But somehow she ends up helping him. And then when she begins to actually understand his issue she wants to help him! And he helps her too.
I enjoyed reading all of Doris's many little adventures and the things she got up to: her letter writing, her ideas to earn money and her quest to help Bird (who is actually named James).
But I do think the most important thing in here is that it explains dyslexia. Plus it ends on a positive note. The story is uplifting. It shows with time, patience and planning you can get the things you want.
Yellow Bird does. He acts kind of silly because he doesn't know how to read. And he is smart too! But he also knows he should be able to read but he can't. The words won't stay still on the page. They sometimes swirl around or he reads them backwards. And sometimes if he wants to write the number "21" he might write "12" instead. But he acts silly because he is trying to hide this problem! Because it is embarrassing. And his teacher is very strict so he is always in trouble.
And so we meet Doris. She thinks Bird is strange and kind of annoying too. But somehow she ends up helping him. And then when she begins to actually understand his issue she wants to help him! And he helps her too.
I enjoyed reading all of Doris's many little adventures and the things she got up to: her letter writing, her ideas to earn money and her quest to help Bird (who is actually named James).
But I do think the most important thing in here is that it explains dyslexia. Plus it ends on a positive note. The story is uplifting. It shows with time, patience and planning you can get the things you want.
April 30, 2018
Joyce Hansen continues the story of the 163rd Street Trilogy in Yellow Bird and Me. Doris still misses Amir, but she finds herself connecting with another unlikely friend in Yellow Bird. She learns something of herself and her connection with Amir when, in a letter, he advises her to help Bird with his homework as they had done.
This is a fantastic novel that helps show young readers the value of looking deeper at people and their truest selves. The characters are as real as any you would see, and the issues reflected in this novel mirror those faced by our students each day.
This is a fantastic novel that helps show young readers the value of looking deeper at people and their truest selves. The characters are as real as any you would see, and the issues reflected in this novel mirror those faced by our students each day.
February 10, 2020
Vocabulary is perfect for 6th to 8th grades. Story deals with real world middle school issues. The characters were engaging and felt like the kid down the block. Very sweet ending, but don't read it ahead!!
January 27, 2018
I sure wish there were more books about these characters. While it was a pretty good book, I think I liked the first book in the series a bit better.
November 12, 2010
what i thought about this book so far is that it talks about how this girl lost her best friend because he move away.I am eager to keep this book because it its very interesting to me.What i expect to happin is that she get in contact with eem nd ee cum bck 4rm wer ee at tew see eer.I think the gurl is a sad nd lonelie person wit out eer bstfrend nw.
January 15, 2010
Yellow Bird and Me is now my top 10 books this year. This is a heart warming, humorous book you can never put down. I am glad a woman like Joyce Hanson was born to write these wonderful book. I am now looking forward to reading the other books with charcters Doris and Amir.
Want to Read
June 6, 2009i want to read dis so bad its like the countinue of the gift giver.
January 4, 2010
Not my favorite of the EBOB books, but a good story.
Read
December 30, 2013AR Quiz No. 5450 EN Fiction
Accelerated Reader Quiz Information IL: MG - BL: 4.0 - AR Pts: 5.0
Accelerated Reader Quiz Type Information AR Quiz Types: RP, VP
Accelerated Reader Quiz Information IL: MG - BL: 4.0 - AR Pts: 5.0
Accelerated Reader Quiz Type Information AR Quiz Types: RP, VP
October 19, 2015
A perfect and heartwarming middle school novel. Loved the characters and the message. Recommend this book for grades 5-7.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews