"A young girl introduces herself to a new neighbor from Syria and bonds with him over shared interests in nature, birdwatching, and finding small treasures. His anxieties about his new life are eased when his knowledge from having pet pigeons in Syria helps save an injured cardinal. Polymer clay art depicts fall and winter scenes in a neighborhood where most residents are immigrants and where intergenerational friendships are strong."-- - (Baker & Taylor)

A simple act of neighborly kindness and a bird that needs their aid helps former refugee Sami settle into his new community with new-found friend Moe

Moe’s neighbors on Wishbone Street come from all over the world, and she’s excited to meet the new boy who just arrived from Syria. Sami isn’t quite ready to talk about his past, but he loves birds just as much as Moe does. And who wouldn’t have fun in a parkette full of packing snow? When the children discover a female cardinal stunned by the cold, Sami uses his experience taking care of pigeons in Syria to help rescue the bird—an incident that helps Sami to feel more at home.

In Birds on Wishbone Street, author/illustrator Suzanne Del Rizzo demonstrates the power of an act of kindness, telling a story about finding home and making friends in new places. Illustrated with her signature polymer clay art, the story revisits characters from Del Rizzo’s New York Times Notable My Beautiful Birds and reminds us that we’re all more similar than we are different.

From the author of New York Times Notable picture book My Beautiful Birds, former Syrian refugee Sami finds a sense of home in a new place by caring for a bird with a new friend - (Ingram Publishing Services)

Horn Book Guide Reviews

Del Rizzo (My Beautiful Birds, rev. 3/17) continues the story of Syrian refugee Sami, this time through the eyes of his new neighbor, Moe (short for Maureen). As Moe walks down her street calling out greetings in Italian, Spanish, and English, she notices a new family moving in. We know it can be hard to move someplace new. She drops off welcome gifts -- mittens, a bird feather, and a mug for hot chocolate -- and shyly introduces herself to Sami at the park. Del Rizzo's illustrations are made with polymer clay and paint, achieving a realistic variety of skin tones and a vibrant, three-dimensional quality. She uses the clay to create lots of textures, such as the knitting on hats and mittens, as well as natural elements like snowflakes and trees, and she provides varied perspectives. The story is loving and gently paced, with the two children coming together to rescue a cardinal we have already seen in several pictures, each sacrificing a treasure to do it. An author's note includes instructions for making suet bird feeders and pouches woven from twigs for winter bird shelters. Copyright 2023 Horn Book Guide Reviews.

Horn Book Magazine Reviews

Del Rizzo (My Beautiful Birds, rev. 3/17) continues the story of Syrian refugee Sami, this time through the eyes of his new neighbor, Moe (short for Maureen). As Moe walks down her street calling out greetings in Italian, Spanish, and English, she notices a new family moving in. "We know it can be hard to move someplace new." She drops off welcome gifts -- mittens, a bird feather, and a mug for hot chocolate -- and shyly introduces herself to Sami at the park. Del Rizzo's illustrations are made with polymer clay and paint, achieving a realistic variety of skin tones and a vibrant, three-dimensional quality. She uses the clay to create lots of textures, such as the knitting on hats and mittens, as well as natural elements like snowflakes and trees, and she provides varied perspectives. The story is loving and gently paced, with the two children coming together to rescue a cardinal we have already seen in several pictures, each sacrificing a treasure to do it. An author's note includes instructions for making suet bird feeders and pouches woven from twigs for winter bird shelters. Susan Dove Lempke January/February 2022 p.81 Copyright 2022 Horn Book Magazine Reviews.

Kirkus Reviews

Everyone on Wishbone Street came from somewhere, bringing with them histories, languages, stories, and more. Maureen, a White girl whose father is from Ireland, lives there. When a new boy moves to her street at the brink of winter, she finds out that they share a love of birds and gifts him a feather. Sami shows Maureen his "treasures," brought over from Syria to Canada, via a refugee camp. (Readers of Del Rizzo's 2017 title, My Beautiful Birds, will recognize Sami's story.) Now friends, the kids have a blast with the first snow of the season, until suddenly they come across a fallen bird. With everyone pitching in, the children, together with adult members of the community, manage to save it. They go further by putting together both shelter and sources of food for the birds during the rough winter. (Step-by-step instructions are included at the end of the book.) Del Rizzo illustrates with elaborate clay modeling combined with other media; the three-dimensional look ignites interest and gives the pictures a special warmth. The story centers care for others and nature as well as focusing on people's shared humanity. While it does not detail Sami's refugee experience or the various backgrounds of Wishbone Street's diverse community, its content provides many possible openings for further learning and discussion. The diverse protagonists are all capable, resourceful individuals who may be sad sometimes but have an immense ability to enjoy life. An exquisite book, in content and illustration, about love, movement, and shared humanity: a keeper. (Picture book. 5-8) Copyright Kirkus 2021 Kirkus/BPI Communications. All rights reserved.

Publishers Weekly Reviews

Maureen, also known as Moe, a light-skinned Irish Canadian child, narrates this warm slice-of-life picture book, which portrays the developing friendship between Moe and Sami, a light brown–skinned new neighbor from Syria, as they bond over a shared interest in birds. Moe meets daily with young neighbors Mei, cued East Asian, and her brother Omari, who reads as Black, as well as adult residents. Del Rizzo's colloquial prose emphasizes collective pursuits, as Moe compares bird-related treasures ("multi-colored feathers... and bird leg-bands too") and includes Sami in wintry activities. Textural scenes created with polymer clay and acrylic makes details pop almost tangibly, presenting a street populated with an inclusive cast of varying ability, age, background, and skin tone. A gentle, bird-centered tale of community care. Back matter features a recipe for bird suet treats and a how-to for winter roosting pockets, plus an author's note. Ages 5–8. (Nov.)