The Birdman

The Birdman

A review of The Birdman by Veronica Martenova Charles

Published on September 1, 2006

The Birdman
Veronica Martenova Charles

Tundra
$22.99
cloth
0-88776-740-0

In Birdman, Veronica Martenova Charles tells the true story of a Calcutta tailor named Noor Nobi. Noor falls into deep despair when he loses his three children in an accident. He finally emerges from his grief when he starts buying sick, caged birds, nursing them back to health, and freeing them in the wild. Annouchka Gravel Galouchko and Stéphan Daigle’s gouache illustrations, clearly inspired by Indian folk art, are bright and intricately detailed. Colour photographs of the real Noor Nobi and his new family are included. The author’s rendering of this remarkable and inspirational story should generate discussion with young readers, and would be a great addition to school and children’s libraries. mRb

Carol-Ann Hoyte is the Quebec English-language regional coordinator for TD Canadian Children's Book Week and organizer of monthly mixers for Montreal anglophone children's book authors and illustrators.

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