Oddbird

PreS-Gr 2–The story of one small bird learning to love himself. Oddbird is a gray bird living in the jungle full of colorful birds. As the other birds relax by the pool, avoiding getting wet, Oddbird jumps right in. The other birds see him, decide that because of his plain feathers, he does not belong, and shoo him away. Oddbird returns to the jungle and sees all of the colors around him. He decides to use the natural colors of the jungle to change his appearance, hoping for acceptance from the other birds. Desierto uses mixed media to add texture to the illustrations and bring the birds and jungle to life. The use of color and size in the text emphasizes the other birds’ disgust at Oddbird and surprise when they see his new appearance. The story unfolds quickly and children will be utterly engaged by Oddbird’s journey. Illustrations support and expand the text, depicting the birds’ expressions: surprise, curiosity, and joy.