The Mountain That Loved a Bird (Paperback)

~ (Author), Eric Carle (Illustrator) "There was once a mountain made of bare stone..." (more)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 3 A gentle, loving tale of friendship, devotion and hope. A desolate stone mountain lives alone in the middle of a desert: nothing grows or lives on it. When Joy, a small bird, stops to rest on one of the mountain's ledges, the mountain is overwhelmed by the softness of the bird's body and begs her to stay. Explaining that the mountain can provide neither food nor drink, she flies on, but promises to return each spring for a few hours. Knowing that mountains live forever and birds do not, she also promises to name a daughter Joy, who in turn will name a daughter Joy and so on, so that the mountain will always have a friend. After 100 years, when the mountain is saddened by yet another Joy's departure, his heart breaks, and tears of sadness come pouring out. A stream is born, and in the following years, Joy brings seeds to plant. Eventually, the mountain's tears of sadness turn into tears of happiness, transforming both itself and the desert into green, fertile worlds. This story contains all the key elements of a folk tale: rhythm, repetition and universality. Children will feel sorry for the mountain as it despairs and will rejoice as it comes to life. Carle's identifiable collage illustrations are a perfect and powerful complement to the story, ranging from somber and gray to joyous and bright, with vibrant shades of red, blue and green. A story that children will want to hear again and again.Laura Bacher, St. Catherine's School, Richmond, Va.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Description

"I am Joy, and I have come to qreet you."

A beautiful bird named Joy stops one day to visit a mountain. Every spring she flies high in the air, looking for the best place to build her nest and raise her children. As much as Joy would like to stay with the mountain, she must leave to continue her search. After hearing the mountain's pleas for her to stay, Joy is so touched she makes a very special promise that each spring the mountain will be visited by one of her kin. Over time the birds bring about a wonderful change in the mountain -- a change that will transform the mountain forever.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Paperback: 28 pages
• Publisher: Aladdin (April 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0689833199
• ISBN-13: 978-0689833199
• Product Dimensions: 10.7 x 7.7 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #286,758 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Timeless Story for Both Young and Old, October 20, 2000

By	Friend of Fantasy "sml82799" (Toronto, Ontario Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Mountain That Loved a Bird (Hardcover)

I randomly picked and read this book waiting for my wife to finish in her kindergarten class. What joy it brought to me, as it will to you and your children. "The Mountain That Loved a Bird" revels in classic storytelling of old: a building promise of a miraculous ending. The timeless themes of emotions, promises made and kept, and "happily-ever-after" resound throughout the story and beautiful artwork. In these days of rapid-fire animation and video game addiction, "The Mountain That Loved a Bird" brings us to a gentler and far more satisfying place. It will teach your children about the power of friendship and hope, a lesson off-times lost in this world of Pokemon and violence. This book is one that should hold a revered and oft-used place beside your child's bed. But don't be surprised if you find "The Mountain That Loved a Bird" making its way into your bedroom or favorite reading nook.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful story, great storytelling, July 17, 2002

By	christinemm - The Thinking Mother (Connecticut, United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

This is a beautiful story about a bird that visits a mountain once a year. Both can talk, and they visit with each other. The mountain is lonely. The bird explains she will die someday, that birds don't live long, but promises she will have her daughter visit when she is gone. She explains that she cannot live there as this mountain is barren, so she can visit only once per year. The mountain is lonely when she passes on and cries (a brook begins). The daughter does visit and she drops one seed per year. In the end the mountain is a thriving ecosystem where birds and animals can live year round, nourished by the water that the mountain created.

The book has longer prose than the usual picture books for this age range (more like the picture books published in the 1950s and 1960s). The illustrations are by Eric Carle, interesting and appealing collage format that he is famous for.

This is a tender and touching tale! It is not just a plain picture book prose, it truly is "storytelling".

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Agreat metaphor of love and joy for adults and children., July 20, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Mountain That Loved a Bird (Hardcover)

Enchanting story of letting life into a barren place. Although told at a child's level the lesson for adults is far deeper. We've all felt such lonliness and remained crusted over in our isolation. Yet somehow the smallest feeling or sensation can be a great new beginning, one in which love and joy can flourish.