Sparrow

PreS-Gr 3–Maybe every kid needs a moving story about hope. While living in an ancient city, Sparrow wakes one morning knowing that change is coming. This small sparrow feels something big and important is about to happen. After gathering things to make her nest softer, she will experience emotions she has never felt before, and a wondrous event that will change her life forever. The rhythm and cadence of the verses are simple, with the use of repetition of words helping to move the story forward and evoke emotion. Beautiful watercolor illustrations, ranging from earth tones that reflect the city of Jerusalem to the beautiful, vibrant colors of hope towards the end, help to capture the emotional journey of the sparrow and the life in the bleak landscape to the amazing discovery and change with hope for the future. ­Excellent back matter provides fascinating facts about the Western Wall in ­Jerusalem, where Sparrow lives, explaining its history spanning 2,000 years, its significance to multiple faiths, and the tradition of placing paper prayers in its cracks, giving great information to older ­readers and to teachers that expands the knowledge and understanding of this book. With its powerful message about hope in the face of change, the story is supported by rich cultural and linguistic back matter and illustrations. ­