Pablo and Birdy

It has been nearly ten years since the "winds of change," which forewarn good or bad fortune, swept through the island tourist town of Isla. At that time, the accompanying storm brought a baby from the sea, tied into a small inflatable swimming pool and fiercely guarded by a bird with lavender feathers. Now that boy, Pablo, is getting ready to celebrate his tenth birthday. Tired of the stories made up about his arrival to Isla, he wants to know the real reason why he was placed into the ocean and why the bird he named Birdy as a baby doesn't fly. Pablo grew up learning about the Seafaring Parrot, a bird with magical powers; and as storm winds begin to blow once again, the boy notices that Birdy is acting strangely. An anthropomorphic stray dog and a "committee" of birds have their own story lines that merge with Pablo's. Pablo is portrayed as a regular kid with questions about his past, and readers will identify with his curiosity and love for his pet. Spanish phrases are scattered sparingly throughout the lyrical text, and occasional imagistic black-and-white illustrations reflect the story's mood. alma ramos-mcdermott