Cuckoo Feathers Book

Sarah sees 2 pigeons pecking at the outside of the kitchen window & begins to think of them as her pigeons until they build their nest at a neighbor's window. How could they be so disloyal? Ages 7-10.

Children's Literature

The entire plot of this title, a part of Naylor's "Simply Sarah" series, concerns Sarah's proprietary interest in two pigeons nesting on the ledge outside the window of her apartment—or, rather, disloyally nesting instead on the ledge outside the window of her new neighbors' facing apartment. How can she lure Coo and Cuckoo back to her own ledge? And how can she save them from the threat of a competing pigeon, whom she christens Bad Bird? But in the capable hands of veteran writer Naylor, this is all that is needed to spin a satisfying story about the fascination of engaging with the natural world, even in a thoroughly urban setting. Sarah's best friend Peter is African-American; the new neighbors who "steal" Coo and Cuckoo away are Mexican-American; another friend is Asian-American. Together the children learn to mourn the death of one little hatchling, while respecting the natural processes that led to it. In the end there is room on both apartment ledges for pigeons aplenty, and room in the children's hearts for new friendships, as well. This just-right chapter book is appealingly illustrated by Ramsey's ink-and-wash drawings, which further invite the reader into the windows of Sarah's welcoming world.