Tradewind Books

Abby's Birds

by Ellen Schwartz

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Description

Abby makes an unlikely friend in her neighbourhood—her elderly Japanese neighbour, Mrs. Naka. All spring and summer, the two delight in the robins that live in the maple tree that straddles their yards. Mrs. Naka teaches Abby how to make tori—origami birds. When Mrs. Naka has an accident, will Abby be able to use her new skill to conjure up a surprise to comfort her ailing neighbour?

Themes: inter-generational friendship, crafts, origami instruction, Japanese

Awards

• Winner of the Chocolate Lily Award (BC Readers' Choice) 2007-2008
• Winner of the Elizabeth-Mrazik Cleaver Award for Illustration 2007
• Finalist for the Christie Harris Illustrated Children's Literature Prize (BC Book Prizes) 2007
• Finalist for the Marilyn Baillie Award for Best Canadian Picture Book 2007
• Finalist for the Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Award 2007
• Finalist for the Shining Willow Award (Saskatchewan Young Readers' Choice) 2008

Reviews

“Abby's Birds, written simply yet descriptively, is a good read aloud which illustrates that kindness and friendship have no age barriers.” CM Magazine

"Elizabeth Shefrin's cut-paper illustrations—ingenious and most appealing to the eye—are the perfect medium for this exquisitely subtle picture-book." The Globe and Mail 

Author Biography

Ellen Schwartz is a highly acclaimed author of twelve books for young children and teen guides to vegetarianism and yoga. She has written Abby's Birds and Mr. Belinsky's Bagels for Tradewind Books. Ellen lives in Burnaby, British Columbia, where she loves to watch the birds that come to her bird feeder all year round.

Illustrator Biography

Sima Elizabeth Shefrin lives and paints on Gabriola Island, BC. She is a well-known cloth and collage artist and is especially interested in the ways that art brings together people of different cultures.