SOLVED. Looking for the title of a fantasy novel [s]

[Don]

I read this book in the mid to late 80's about 5 children who were orphans. Each child had a different set of "skills" One had an affinity to the plants and grass, one an affinity with the very colorful birds, another with animals, storms and weather and the last was a precog. One character was born a hermaphrodite. They grow in power as they get older until they become the aspects for which they had an affinity for. I am hoping this is enough detail to spark a memory for someone to remember the title. I can even visualize the cover of the book but the title and author escape me.

[bookel]

What do you visualize the cover to look like? Sometimes people recognize a book from that description, so if you can picture it, doesn't matter how detailed or vague, it may help to write what you recall.

[Don]

The cover showed the five children. One with the grass nipping at his heels, a girl with a swirl of birds around her, the ugly little boy with a worried look on his face hugging himself, the girl with a knife holding a bird down and trying to stab it with a knife and the last boy with the animals around him looking "bullish". Hope this helps!

[Arielle Rae]

Is it any book in the Circle of Magic series by Tamora Pierce?

[Don]

Unfortunately it is not, but they do look interesting.

[Slinkyboy]

I think you're probably referring to Sunwaifs by Sydney J. Van Scyoc.

Each child has a special affinity to something. I remember particularly the boy with the affinity for plants and grass.

[Don]

Indeed, Sunwaifs is the book. Thank you very much for the assist!