Will I love The Dead Bird?

This is a book I would have loved to write and illustrate. “The bird was dead when the children found it.” says its opening line. 

There are many children’s books that deal with grief and loss but The Dead Bird is one of a kind. The kids in the story didn’t know the bird when it was alive. They only meet the bird after it has died and yet, they have a funeral for it. They sing for a bird that once flew and no longer will. They cry for a life that was, but no longer is. 

With child-like… show more.

This classic has been a favorite of mine for over 30 years. Its straight-talking text tells the story of children who find a dead bird, decide to have a funeral, and to bury the bird. 

As young readers and listeners engage with this book, they learn about rituals of death.

The fact that it has stood the test of time, has never gone out of print, and was reissued with new illustrations after forty-five years on the market speaks to the value of this book. If you are fortunate enough to have or find a copy with the original illustrations… show more.