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One Dark Bird
A lyrical counting book begins with a single starling ( 1 dark bird / perched way up high / a view of town / a taste of sky”), joined by others one by one in rhyming verse up to ten. The number of birds continues to increase (“a hundred here / and there / and there”), growing into a huge flock. Startled by a hawk, the starlings begin to swoop and soar in unison (Waves like water / dark then light / from down to up, then left to right). A brief note on the title page defines this event as a murmuration, stating it is “quite a sight to see…” It is here, too, in deeply hued illustrations that show the dramatic flight against a vibrant, setting-sun sky. As night falls, the birds begin to fly off, or roost, until there are only 10… then 9… and, eventually, 1 again. ©2020 Cooperative Children’s Book Center
Illustrated by Frann Preston-Gannon
Wisconsin author
Liz Garton Scanlon grew up in Vail, Colorado and spent summers in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, where she later moved and attended high school. She graduated from UW-Madison (1990). She currently lives in Austin, Texas.
CCBC Age Recommendation: Ages 3-6
Age Range:
Babies/Toddlers (birth – 3)
PreK-Early Elementary (Ages 4-7)
Format:
Picture book
Subjects:
Birds (Fiction)
Counting (Concept)
Nature/Environment
Stories in Rhyme
Publisher:
Beach Lane
Publish Year: 2019
Pages: 32
ISBN: 9781534404434
CCBC Location: Picture Book, Scanlon