When a wild fisher cat attacks her flock and steals the shiny pendant that brings them luck, a tiny crow with a big imagination and even bigger heart embarks on a far-reaching journey of wits, wisdom and new friendship. By the Newbery Medal-winning author of Dicey’s Song and the Newbery Medal-winning author of Criss Cross. 30,000 first printing. Simultaneous eBook. Illustrations. - (Baker & Taylor)

"Little Bird faces many challenges when attempting to find her flock's good-luck charm that was lost during an attack by a wild fisher cat"-- - (Baker & Taylor)

“A sweet and uplifting read.”—Publishers Weekly

Celebrated Newbery Medal–winner Cynthia Voigt introduces Little Bird, a tiny crow with a big imagination and an even bigger heart, in this timeless read-alone and read-aloud just right for the young middle grade audience. Little Bird features black-and-white illustrations by Newbery Medalist Lynne Rae Perkins throughout.

When a wild fisher cat attacks their nest, Little Bird and her flock are devastated. Not only does the fisher cat harm the fledglings, but it also makes off with the shiny pendant that the superstitious crows rely on for good luck. Little Bird believes that she can find the lucky pendant and return it to the nest before disaster strikes. The other crows aren’t so sure—after all, Little Bird is so little and undependable and meek.

But with the help of some new friends—including a very funny goat—Little Bird journeys through forests and over lakes and fields, challenging her wits and survival skills along the way. The crow who returns home is wiser, braver, kinder, and ready—at last—to spread her wings.

Newbery Medal–winner Cynthia Voigt’s gentle humor, sense of fun and adventure, and delightful main character sing off the page in this timely short novel about bravery and friendship, illustrated by Newbery Medal–winner Lynne Rae Perkins. A page-turning read-aloud for families and classrooms, and a terrific book for fans of Nuts to You, by Lynne Rae Perkins, and Avi’s Poppy books.

'A sweet and uplifting read.''Publishers Weekly

Celebrated Newbery Medal'winner Cynthia Voigt introduces Little Bird, a tiny crow with a big imagination and an even bigger heart, in this timeless read-alone and read-aloud just right for the young middle grade audience. Little Bird features black-and-white illustrations by Newbery Medalist Lynne Rae Perkins throughout.

When a wild fisher cat attacks their nest, Little Bird and her flock are devastated. Not only does the fisher cat harm the fledglings, but it also makes off with the shiny pendant that the superstitious crows rely on for good luck. Little Bird believes that she can find the lucky pendant and return it to the nest before disaster strikes. The other crows aren't so sure'after all, Little Bird is so little and undependable and meek.

But with the help of some new friends'including a very funny goat'Little Bird journeys through forests and over lakes and fields, challenging her wits and survival skills along the way. The crow who returns home is wiser, braver, kinder, and ready'at last'to spread her wings.

Newbery Medal'winner Cynthia Voigt's gentle humor, sense of fun and adventure, and delightful main character sing off the page in this timely short novel about bravery and friendship, illustrated by Newbery Medal'winner Lynne Rae Perkins. A page-turning read-aloud for families and classrooms, and a terrific book for fans of Nuts to You, by Lynne Rae Perkins, and Avi's Poppy books.

Booklist Reviews

Little Bird is named for being the smallest crow in her roost; the other crows, all with sharp, cacophonous names starting with the letter K, seem to think this means that they can boss her around endlessly. When a fisher attacks a nest in the tree, it runs away with Our Luck, a necklace woven into the nest. Little Bird goes off to see if she can find the fisher's den and recover the necklace, and her quest turns into a hero's journey. On her travels, Little Bird faces grave danger, survives, and returns to the oak tree roost much changed. She has learned about her own autonomy and discovered she has the free will to make her own decisions. Voigt's narrative is reminiscent of work by authors such as Robert Lawson and E.B. White, not only because it is told from an animal's point of view but also for the level of self-reflection the character expresses. This title will nicely suit a contemplative middle-grader, but it would also make a great read-aloud pick. Grades 4-7. Copyright 2020 Booklist Reviews.

Horn Book Guide Reviews

In her latest animal fantasy, Voigt returns to the Old Davis Farm, a territory she has explored in three previous books (most recently Toaff's Way, rev. 9/18). Little Bird is a curious crow who doesn't quite fit in. She takes on the task of finding a missing necklace to which the crows attribute their good luck. Her quest takes her outside her usual territory, where she encounters new situations, new creatures, dangers, and a dark night of the soul. There are threats and a near-deadly attack on Little Bird, but the focus here isn't nature red in tooth and claw but rather communication, the interactions between characters as they connect, suffer from misunderstandings, make jokes, and expand one another's horizons through storytelling. Part of the fun lies in decoding Little Bird's descriptions of humans. What would you make of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich or a schoolyard if you'd never seen one before? Voigt is a master at creating animal characters that are convincing and compelling in themselves while simultaneously nudging us to take a wry look at ourselves. Copyright 2023 Horn Book Guide Reviews.

Horn Book Magazine Reviews

In her latest animal fantasy, Voigt returns to the Old Davis Farm, a territory she has explored in three previous books (most recently Toaff's Way, rev. 9/18). Little Bird is a curious crow who doesn't quite fit in. She takes on the task of finding a missing necklace to which the crows attribute their good luck. Her quest takes her outside her usual territory, where she encounters new situations, new creatures, dangers, and a dark night of the soul. There are threats and a near-deadly attack on Little Bird, but the focus here isn't "nature red in tooth and claw" but rather communication, the interactions between characters as they connect, suffer from misunderstandings, make jokes, and expand one another's horizons through storytelling. Part of the fun lies in decoding Little Bird's descriptions of humans. What would you make of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich or a schoolyard if you'd never seen one before? Voigt is a master at creating animal characters that are convincing and compelling in themselves while simultaneously nudging us to take a wry look at ourselves. Sarah Ellis January/February 2021 p.119 Copyright 2021 Horn Book Magazine Reviews.

Kirkus Reviews

A crow goes on a journey and is forever changed. An undersized crow, Little Bird is relegated to menial jobs in her flock. At the story's opening, she is watching the half-grown fledglings while the other crows do more important jobs. Then a cat comes, and chaos ensues. One fledgling is taken, and, nearly as bad, "Our Luck"—a shiny necklace woven into the rook's nest as a protective totem—is also gone. Little Bird, shamed, sets off to find it. The third-person narrative is told from Little Bird's point of view, and while she understands other animals' speech, they, with the exception of a wise goat, do not understand the language of crows. But understanding and comprehension are two different things, and there are many words Little Bird hears whose meanings she doesn't know. As Little Bird journeys farther away, she encounters unfamiliar concepts and continually tries to put them into context. This allegorylike story is brilliantly conceived, but its ruminative aspect is tedious at times. Little Bird's assessing each new experience based solely on what she currently knows is not unlike reading about someone inventing the wheel. Over and over. That said, flashes of bright humor burst joyfully, especially when the other animals talk, and the story's theme sneaks up on readers: Curiosity changes you, enriches you, and gives you choices. This quirky fable will either bemuse or beguile. (Fantasy. 8-12) Copyright Kirkus 2020 Kirkus/BPI Communications. All rights reserved.

Publishers Weekly Reviews

From Newbery Medalist Voigt (Dicey's Song) comes this story of a tiny, inquisitive crow tackling life's big questions. The smallest in her flock, Little Bird is expected to protect fledglings from predators. A successive attack by a hawk, two cats, and a fisher, however, leaves one of her charges dead and the treasured Our Luck—a "golden chain... and milky drop of hard dew" that the crows believe lends them protection and prosperity—stolen. Though the other corvids doubt her, Little Bird sets off to locate the fisher, retrieve the trinket, and prove she's worthy after all. She encounters all sorts of animals, tame and wild, through cleverly written interactions that portray their amusing thoughts and quirky behaviors. With each new encounter, Little Bird's confidence and desire to learn more about the world grow, even as she increasingly recognizes dangers. Voigt's craft is on full display in emotionally evocative scenes, such as wonder at soaring and palpable fear at an encounter with death. Little Bird is a plucky protagonist, whose joy at discovering her wings, both literally and proverbially, makes this a sweet and uplifting read. Soft spot art by Newbery Medalist Perkins (Criss Cross) provides visual beats. Ages 8–12. Author's agent: Merrilee Heifetz, Writers House. (Sept.)