Mole and the Baby Bird [Paperback]

Marjorie Newman (Author)

Book Description

When Mole finds a baby bird injured and alone he takes it home to look after it very carefully. But soon Mole has the greatest dilemma of all - is the baby bird going to be a pet or is it going to be free? Mole is guided by two wonderful, carefully observed parents and a kind and thoughtful grandfather into making his final and touching decision. This tender and most gentle of picture books explores important and big themes in the most understated and subtle way. Like all Patrick Benson picture books, this story has the feeling of a children's classic in the making. "A tender story that gently informs the young reader about the importance of freedom. The subtle text combined with beautiful art and an important theme make this picture book a sure-fire classic for children of all ages." - "Publishing News".

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

This sweet, simple story from Marjorie Newman (The King and the Cuddly) and award-winning Scottish illustrator Patrick Benson (The Sea-Thing Child) somehow avoids cliché while teaching one of life's oldest lessons: if you love something, you really shouldn't hold it prisoner in a tiny, handmade wooden cage.

With spare text, Newman explains how Mole finds a baby bird that has fallen out of its nest, apparently abandoned. ("Mole waited and waited, but no big bird came to help it.") He takes the tiny bird home to keep, despite his parents' warnings: "'It's my pet bird,' said Mole. 'It's not a pet bird. It's a wild bird,' said his mother." Eventually, the baby bird tries to fly, and the earnest, industrious Mole builds a cage (with the bird's help!) to keep him from leaving. ("He put the bird into its new cage. The bird was sad. Mole's mother was sad, too. But Mole kept his bird, because he loved it.") Eventually, it falls to visiting Grandad to gently nudge Mole into doing what he knows he must.

As in The Sea-Thing Child (with Russell Hoban), Benson's understated artwork helps to keep this fairly adult message accessible for wee ones, with thoughtful compositions that carry the meter towards the book's inevitable end. But Benson's most memorable accomplishment is the subtly sad and comic baby bird, who regularly peeks out to look directly at the reader. (Ages 4 to 8) --Paul Hughes --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Publishers Weekly

With just a sentence or two per page, British author Newman conveys to youngest readers the importance of allowing others to be free to be themselves. When young Mole happens upon an abandoned baby bird, he brings the tiny creature home with him. Mole quickly falls into the caretaker role assisted by his kind but realistic mother (It's very, very hard to take care of a baby bird) building the bird a nest and gathering it some food. But as the bird grows healthy and shows signs of wanting to fly, Mole confines his feathered friend to a wooden cage. Eventually, his parents gentle remarks (when Mole calls it his pet bird, each parent in turn replies, It s not a pet bird. It's a wild bird) and a hilltop walk with his grandfather help lead Mole to the conclusion that the baby bird deserves its freedom. With a quietly resonating tone, Newman tackles heart-tugging issues the responsibilities of pet care, the pain of loss, respect for the natural world that many parents will find familiar. Benson's (Owl Babies) serene ink-and-watercolor illustrations capture springtime in the country in all its sunny, leafy-green finery. With cozy accents, a quilt, a china cupboard, a stack of picture books, carefully placed windows he manages to make Mole's underground home equally bright and inviting. And the cast of critters each a skillful cross between realistic and anthropomorphic is sure to charm. Ages 4-8.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Bloomsbury Childrens Books (September 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0747561192
• ISBN-13: 978-0747561194
• Product Dimensions: 10.6 x 9.4 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,293,864 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars First Graders Recommend, February 17, 2003

By 

First Graders at The Potomac School in McLean... (McLean, VA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mole and the Baby Bird (Hardcover)

First grade students complimented the charming watercolor illustrations, THEN noted that this story is both happy and sad. When Mole finds an abandoned baby bird, he takes it home. He builds a nest for his new charge, finds it food, and learns how to feed it. When the bird flutters its wings to fly, Mole builds a cage. Thankfully, grandfather arrives just in time and helps Mole learn the lesson of love and loss. First graders waited with bated breath for the story's conclusion. Would Mole set the baby bird free?

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I cry every time, November 19, 2010

By 

J. Caritas (Minneapolis) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mole and the Baby Bird (Hardcover)

My 3-year-old daughter and I get a huge stack of books from the library every couple of weeks -- "Mole and the Baby Bird" was in our last stack. While my daughter's tastes are erratic, I absolutely love this book -- in fact, this is the first children's book I've felt inspired by enough to write a review. The simplicity of the language ("Then he cried.") makes the simple story incredibly moving and raw. Each time I read about baby bird alone in his dark cage (especially with the wonderful imagery) my voice chokes up -- even after multiple readings. Well done!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Just a lovely story..., September 26, 2004

By 

A DC Reader "rehjr" (WASHINGTON, DC USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mole and the Baby Bird (Board book)

My husband picked this up for my son (18 months) at our local independent bookstore. Since then, it is a consistent favorite - not just with our son, but with the entire family. It is beautifully told, a lovely tale, and wonderfully illustrated. I actually came on this site hoping to find more of her books in print. I believe it is a story that will bear re-telling for years to come.