South (Read-Along)

March 6, 2017
A hulking fisherman in a cable-knit sweater discovers a bird (it resembles an arctic tern) huddled on the deck of his ship. He splints its broken wing and makes a bed in his dresser drawer for it: “All that was left to do was wait.” As big, wet snowflakes fall, the fisherman realizes that it’s time for birds to head south, and he changes course. Painting in pale, weatherworn hues, Duncan (The Adventures of Henry Whiskers) shows the strength of the fisherman’s resolve with a view from underneath the boat, where the anchor is dislodged so quickly that fish dart in all directions. The fisherman spies a small, palm-dotted island covered with birds and leaves the tern there with its mates: “It was time to say good-bye.” Then the fisherman remembers, with moist eyes, that he has a home to return to as well. Duncan excels at capturing emotion, and his spreads balance cinematic views of ocean life with warm humanity. While it’s a wistful read rather than a joyful one, there’s quiet pleasure in the intimacy between the solitary man and small bird. Ages 5–7. Agency: Bright Agency.

March 1, 2017
A lonely fisherman finds an unexpected seagoing friend.He sails the seas alone, the burly, white, brown-bearded fisherman in the knitted cap, strumming his banjo as he sits on the side of his modest wooden boat. A sudden noise attracts his attention: it's a tern with a broken wing, cowering in the boat's stern. The fisherman gently splints the bird's wing and devises a makeshift nest in the top drawer of his dresser. After its recovery, the little bird becomes his constant companion. But the fisherman knows that a boat is not a proper home for a bird, and winter is coming. Through his spyglass, he spots a lovely island in the distance, dotted with palm trees. It's time to say goodbye; the bird flies away to his new home. To remember his friend, the fisherman frames a single feather and puts it up on the wall of his cabin, then decides it's time to head home. The warm, detailed illustrations are the stars of Duncan's simple friendship fable. Scenes of the snug ship's cabin contrast effectively with underwater views; one dramatic wordless spread shows the small boat churning along above an enormous whale six times its size. The affection between man and bird is plain. Cabin decorations hint at a complicated back story for the fisherman, and readers will wonder why he is alone. Sweet and affecting. (Picture book. 3-6)

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April 15, 2017
Preschool-G This yarn about a lone seafaring fisherman who cares for a bird with a broken wing succeeds in being as concise as its title. When the bird is healed, the fisherman sails south to release it on a tropical island and then heads back toward his own home. There isn't much interaction between the two: the fisherman plays the banjo while the bird sings along, and the two taste the daily catch together. The paraphernalia pictured in the boat's cabin provides a glimpse into the fisherman's life and fills in some of the blanks without being overwhelming. The illustrations also give a strong sense of comfort; scenes set in the cozy cabin are awash in warm browns and grays, in sharp contrast to the vast, cold ocean. There are a few quirky inconsistencies, and the literal-minded will wonder how the fisherman's trawler, which doesn't seem particularly seaworthy, could make such an extended journey, while others will just appreciate the romance of a temporary friendship on the high seas.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)

May 1, 2017
One banjo-picking, bearded fisherman sails the sea alone on his tiny wooden home of a boat. When a broken-winged bird appears on deck, we realize the fisherman's life is about to change. He takes the bird below and bandages its wing; readers, meanwhile, get a front-row view of the man's past by looking closely at the illustrations. On his walls are lots of pictures and memorabilia from his life, many of the photos seemingly taken by the Polaroid camera that's near his bed. Is that a younger bearded fisherman with a wife and son? Who's playing the banjo in the picture by the wheel? His cabin is a tidy collection of books, coffee and tea canisters, and a cozy sock drawer for his new friend. But it's getting colder. The fisherman decides to veer off course, journeying south to bring his companion home. Newcomer Duncan has an eye for detail that shows from the opening endpapers. Each little item there is found in the body of the work, adding depth to this simple friendship tale. The text, meanwhile, is spare and well paced. Gentle stories of friendship are an important part of the literary diet for the very young, and this one will find a welcome space beside Steig's Amos & Boris (rev. 2/72) and other such classics. Let's hope for many more books from this storyteller. robin smith

(Copyright 2017 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)