Please welcome author Hope Lim today with her picture book list of bird characters that inspire her. Her own debut picture book soars like the birds in the sky, with a message about connection and inclusiveness.
We are giving away 2 signed copies of I Am a Bird when it comes out next February of 2021. Please fill out the Rafflecopter at the bottom to enter.
I Am a Bird by Hope Lim, illustrated by Hyewon Yum
When birds sail across the sky, soaring high above the world, they are not confined. They are free in spirit and motion. When I wrote I Am a Bird, I hoped to capture the sense of freedom metaphorically from the perspective of a young child: we should soar above our biases and prejudices and seek to discover how we are all connected. [picture book, ages 4 and up] Release date is February 2, 2021 from Candlewick Press.
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I am grateful to those who believed in the potential of this story and humbled by the collaborative effort by all who created I Am a Bird. While I eagerly await its release, I have put together a list of books that feature a bird element. They range from classics by esteemed creators to a title by one of my writer friends.
6 Picture Books with Birds as Inspiration or Character
Trevor by Jim Averbeck, illustrated by Amy Hevron
Trevor is a sweet story about a yellow canary who befriends a lemon. The lemon may be silent but provides everything Trevor ever needs in a friend. I was drawn to the precise, elegant language, which I heard read aloud by Jim Averbeck himself at a book reading in San Francisco. The charming art by Amy Hevron perfectly captures this unique and meaningful friendship. The hefty emotional punch in the end is long lasting. [picture book, ages 4 and up]
I Have a Balloon by Ariel Bernstein, illustrated by Scott Magoon
Owl has a balloon and Monkey wants it. Monkey bargains to trade, and when one of his possessions finally intrigues Owl, the dynamics of their relationship and perspectives on what’s possible change. Ariel Bernstein’s tightly constructed text and the fun and expressive illustrations by Scott Magoon tell a story about “NOT sharing’” in a humorous way. It’s a refreshing take on negotiating for what you want and appreciating what you have. [picture book, ages 3 and up]
Owl Moon by Jane Yolen, illustrated by John Schoenherr
Owl Moon depicts the special experiences of a young child and her father during their journey to spot an owl on a moon-lit night. OWL MOON was published in 1987, yet I still come back to this classic for the power of its lyrical language, which renders an emotion close to serenity while allowing the mind to wander into a wintry night. I read Jane Yolen’s books to my children long before I thought of becoming a children’s book writer, and this one occupies a very special place in my heart. [picture book, ages 2 and up]
Lotus & Feather by Ji-li Jiang, illustrated by Julie Downing
Lotus & Feather captures the special bond between a girl and a wild crane. It was inspired by the true story of a crane that rescued a Chinese village. The beautiful watercolors drew my eye and pulled me into the story on the pages. I also love how this story of a lonely girl finding comfort and friendship in a wild crane speaks to environmental issues concerning the loss and recovery of wetlands. Julie Downing’s beautiful illustrations are as captivating and soothing as the story. [picture book, ages 3 and up]
The Iridescence of Birds by Patricia MacLachlan, illustrated by Hadley Hooper
The Iridescence of Birds tells the story about how Henry Matisse’s childhood experiences inspired his life’s work. I marvel at Patricia MacLachlan’s poetic text, an impossibly long single sentence, and Hadley Hooper’s ingenious artwork, which captures the colors and shapes of Matisse’s young life brilliantly. I have poured over the details in every page and simple, elegant text over and over. This book is a masterful example of the power of picture books, where text and art create memorable storytelling. [picture book, ages 4 and up]
Mama Builds a Little Nest by Jennifer Ward, illustrated by Steve Jenkins
Mama Builds a Little Nest invites young readers into the fascinating world of birds and
how they build their nests. Jennifer Ward’s four-line rhyming verse is both fun and perfect for a
read-aloud, and Steve Jenkins’ colorful cut-paper collages are charming and incredibly accurate
in detail. I learned so much about birds and their nests from both the text and the additional
intriguing facts on each page. [picture book, ages 4 and up]
2 Signed Copies of I Am a Bird picture book GIVEAWAY!
We are giving away 2 signed copies of I Am a Bird when it comes out next February of 2021. Please fill out the Rafflecopter below to enter. We can only mail to U.S. or AFO addresses. Please note that the book will not ship until February of 2021.
Hope Lim is a children’s book author from South Korea who now lives in San Francisco with her family. She majored in English Literature and earned a Master’s degree in Conference Interpretation. Her debut picture book, I AM A BIRD, illustrated by Hyewon Yum, will be published by Candlewick in February 2021. MY TREE, illustrated by Il Sung Na (Neal Porter Books, Summer ’21) and MOMMY’S HOMETOWN, illustrated by Jamie Kim (Candlewick, Fall ’22) will follow. Learn more about her website, Twitter (@hope_lim), and Instagram (@hopelim_sf).
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Follow PragmaticMom’s board Multicultural Books for Kids on Pinterest.
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My books:
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
The Traveling Taco:
- Reading Rockets’ Summer Reading Guide 2025
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
- Junior Library Guild Gold Selection
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
We Sing from the Heart: How the Slants® Took Their Fight for Free Speech to the Supreme Court
- ALSC Notable Children’s Book
- 2025 Carter G. Woodson Book Award Middle Level Honoree
- Orbis Pictus Recommended Book for Outstanding Nonfiction for Children
- 2024 Julia Ward Howe Prize for Children’s Literature Winner
- California Eureka Non-Fiction Award Honor Book
- Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People Winner (from National Council for the Social Studies and Children’s Book Council)
- Bank Street Best Children’s Books of the Year 2025
- Junior Library Guild Gold Selection
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Amazon / Barefoot Books / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Food for the Future: Sustainable Farms Around the World
- ⭐ Starred review from School Library Journal!
- Junior Library Guild Gold selection
- Massachusetts Book Award Long List
- dPICTUS 100 Outstanding Picture Books of 2023
- Chicago Library’s Best of the Best
- 2023 INDIES Book of the Year Awards Finalist
- Green Earth Book Award Long List
- Nautilus Silver Winner, Nonfiction Children’s Picture Book
- Sunshine State Young Readers Award Orange Blossom List for Nonfiction
- Imagination Soup’s 35 Best Nonfiction Books of 2023 for Kids
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Bank Street College’s The Best Children’s Books of the Year
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
I like Are you my mother? I read it to my daughter and I read it to my granddaughter.
Radiant books, full of color and diversity!!
Right now I can’t think of a book with birds, but I have added several to my list now. I am especially looking forward to “I Am A Bird” and “Lotus and Feather”, both of which seem very sensitive.
Some good bird books we have enjoyed:
A Nest Is Noisy by Dianna Hutts Aston and Sylvia Long (there are others in this series)
Hawk Rising by Maria Gianferrari
Little Owl’s Snow by Divya Srinivasan (there are others in this series)
Bird Watch by Christie Matheson
and When Blue Met Egg by Lindsay Ward
These book are beautiful in color, varied in topics, and have an enticing story line! I would love to share them with my Grand kids and adopted Grand kids!
My granddaughters like looking at our guides to identify hawks and eagles.
I have Owl Moon from when I was a kid and have read to my own child. It is full of serenity, beauty and patience.
We enjoyed the book Ruby’s Birds by Mya Thompson
I fondly remember a book from my childhood, Birds Eat and Eat and Eat, by Roma Gans
We like “Are You my Mother?” book 🙂