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Bird Brothers: A Delhi Story
CCBC Review:
Brothers Nadeem Shehzad and Mohammad Saud established a wildlife rehabilitation center for black kites, a bird of prey commonly found in Delhi, India. As children, Nadeem and Mohammad frequently encountered black kites injured by manja, glass-coated kite strings. As the brothers got older, and Delhi became more populous and choked with smog, black kites began to suffer from dehydration and respiratory problems as well as manja cuts. The compassionate brothers’ decision to bring an injured black kite to their own home to care for it while it recuperated led to additional action on their part: They began gathering injured birds, caring for them, bargaining for meat to feed them, and learning how to repair broken bones and torn muscles and tendons. Nadeem and Mohammad built aviaries on their rooftop and became known in the community for their work. Since 2010, they “have nursed more than 26,000 birds back to health.” Well-paced and engaging, this remarkable true story both saddens and inspires. ©2026 Cooperative Children’s Book Center
Illustrated by Barkha Lohia
CCBC Age Recommendation: 5-9
Age Range:
PreK-Early Elementary (Ages 4-7)
Grades 3-5 (Ages 8-10)
Formats:
Biography, Autobiography and Memoir
Picture book
Subjects:
Birds (Informational)
Brothers
Problem-Solving
Diversity subject:
Asian
Publisher:
Orca
Publish Year: 2025
Pages: 32
ISBN: 9781459838567
CCBC Location: Non-Fiction, 598 Singh