The Mountain That Loved a Bird [Hardcover]

Alice McLerran (Author), Eric Carle (Illustrator)

Book Description

A beautiful bird brings life to a lonely, barren mountain.

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.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 28 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing (August 20, 1985)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0887080006
• ISBN-13: 978-0887080005
• Product Dimensions: 11.7 x 8.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.3 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #899,014 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 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.

7 of 7 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.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great book to teach the hidden growth of hope!, January 13, 1999

By A Customer

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

I am a Chaplain at The Children's Hospital in Denver. This is an excellent book to share with families in a crisis. It illustrates the gift of hope in our deepest moments. A gift of life and hope being born inspite of our awareness. The mountain could only feel it's sadness, yet amidst the sadness the gift of life was being born all around him. A very inspiring book!