THE LITTLE BIRD WHO LOST HIS SONG

Little Bird looks everywhere for his lost song.

When his best efforts fail to produce even a “cheep,” Little Bird checks his music box, but his song is not there. Next, he checks the radio, a record player (really!), a clock, and the teakettle, but he doesn’t find his song in those places either. Strangely enough, while readers learn that these items don’t contain or produce Little Bird’s song, they don’t get to hear what sounds they do make (with the exception of the teakettle’s “whistling sound”). Then, in the bewildering conclusion to this tale, Little Bird finds that he can chirp again because his friends have joined forces to knit a long scarf to keep him warm. There is no previous indication that Little Bird is cold, and this odd resolution seems designed to wrap up the tale with a lesson on the benefits of friendship, a valuable lesson indeed but one that is here unearned and misplaced. Published simultaneously, The Little Bear Who Lost Her Way also suffers from an unconvincing and less-than-compelling storyline. The soft, appealing illustrations and lift-the-flap interactivity serve both titles well but are not enough to tip the scales in their favor.

With so many exquisite titles currently in board-book format, caregivers can safely skip this and its companion.