Birdsong

Companion Guide for Teachers and Parents Available (Download/See All)

BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR: PUBLISHERS WEEKLY, SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL, KIRKUS, HORN BOOK, QUILL & QUIRE, GLOBE AND MAIL

WINNER OF THE TD CANADIAN CHILDREN’S LITERATURE AWARD

FINALIST FOR THE GOVERNOR GENERAL’S AWARD

AN AMERICAN INDIAN YOUTH LITERATURE HONOR TITLE

A BOSTON GLOBE––HORN BOOK HONOR BOOK

When Katherena and her mother move to a small town, Katherena feels lonely and out of place. But when she meets an elderly woman artist who lives next door, named Agnes––her world starts to change. 

Katherena and Agnes share the same passions for arts and crafts, birds, and nature. But as the seasons change, can Katherna navigate the failing health of her new friend?  

Award-winning author and artist Julie Flett’s textured images of birds, flowers, art, and landscapes bring vibrancy and warmth to this powerful story, which highlights the fulfillment of intergenerational relationships, shared passions, and spending time outdoors with the ones we love.

Includes a glossary and pronunciation guide to Cree words that appear in the text. 

“Cree-Métis author/illustrator Julie Flett's smooth and lyrical words and gorgeous... images truly capture the warmth and solidarity of the female protagonists in this tender intergenerational friendship story.”—The Horn Book  

“Cycling from spring to spring, [Julie Flett’s] subtle, sensitive story delicately traces filaments of growth and loss through intergenerational friendship, art making, and changing moons and seasons.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review)

Julie Flett, a Cree-Métis author, illustrator, and artist, has received numerous awards for her books, including an esteemed Governor General’s Award and the American Indian Library Association Award. Her work has been reviewed widely, including in the New York Times, the Globe and Mail, and Publishers Weekly.

"A beautiful portrait of an intergenerational friendship where both parties have something to share and learn. ...Simple and profound, this tender story is a reminder that finding a new friend can make a new place feel like home. Highly recommended for purchase."
—School Library Journal, STARRED REVIEW

“[Birdsong] shows young readers how new friends can sometimes ease them; that this friendship is an intergenerational one between fellow artists is an especially sweet touch. Emotionally stunning.”
—Kirkus, STARRED REVIEW

“Flett fills this tender story with spare, precise language and vivid details…The text seamlessly incorporates Cree-Métis words [and] Flett’s earth-toned illustrations capture the seasons with a spare, minimalist beauty."
—Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast