The Birdman. Written by Veronika Martenova Charles. Illustrated by Annouchka Gravel Galouchko & Stephan Daigle. Tundra Books, 2006. 32 pages. After losing his family to an accident, a Calcutta tailor purchases wild birds at market and sets them free. Based on a true story of compassion detailed in the afterword. KIND Children's Honor book. Fiction picture book. Interest level: Grs 2-6.

Here, There and Everywhere: The Story of Sreeeeeeeet the Lorikeet. Written by Mira Tweti. Illustrated by Lisa Brady. With a foreward by Jane Goodall. Parrot Press, 2008. 47 pages. A young Lorikeet is snatched away from his family and brought to America where he is sold in a pet shop. The Lorikeet's guardians, a boy and his parents, soon realize the bird does not belong in captivity so they they return him to his native New Guinea where he is reunited with his family. This captivating story, based on actual events, will help bring much needed awareness to the plight of caged/imprisoned birds. Fiction picture book. Interest level: Grades 2 and up.

Adult readers may learn more about the parrot trade and bird conservation by reading Ms. Tweti's highly acclaimed Of People and Parrots:The Sometimes Funny, Always Fascinating, and Often Catastrophic Collision of Two Intelligent Species. And visit More Beautiful Wild too.

Lucky: Based on a True Story. Written by Monica Engebretson. Illustrated by Melodee Strong. Produced by The Avian Welfare Coalition, 2009. Unpaged. Publisher's summary: This children’s book — based on a true story — tells the story of Lucky, a parrot who is captured in the wild and eventually regains his freedom with the help of a young boy. The story helps encourage children to be kind to animals without being didactic and gently awakens readers to the plight of captive birds. Fiction picture book. Paperback. Interest level: Grs 1-4. Click here for Lesson Plans and Activities.

"The love for all living creatures is the most noble attribute of man" ~ Charles Darwin

Next topic: Companion Animal Care>

Back to Booklist Main Page>

©2007-2009 Humane Education Teacher