The speckled feather

"Three snow-white birds," Ade, Emem, and Nuru, sit atop an elephant. "There were never any quarrels on the elephant's back" -- until one day a bright speckled feather floats across the savanna. It is plucked out of the air by Ade, who tucks the feather into his own plumage and proclaims, "I'm the most beautiful bird in the whole savanna!" Of course, arguments, intrigue, and treachery ensue. Emem and Nuru plot to join forces to get the feather, though Emem secretly wants it all to himself. The three birds become so loud and annoying that the elephant finally roars, "ENOUGH!" and dumps the freeloading birds off his back. Real excitement follows as a shadow lurks in the grass, yellow eyes glowing as it stalks the birds. Suddenly, the wild dog attacks, only to be thumped by "a large, gray, powerful something" and sent on its way. The birds are saved, and a friendship is restored. This theme of bickering companions who discover the value and need of friendship is common in fables, but it is given a fresh and inventive spin here, with plenty of lively dialogue perfect for classroom readers' theater performances and gorgeous amber-hued illustrations that play beautifully with perspective and exude the heat and feel of an African savanna. A well-paced and visually attractive picture-book debut. Dean Schneider July/August 2021 p.95(c) Copyright 2021. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Three birds living on the back of an elephant find their lives disrupted when they come across a speckled feather. Beginning her story with "Once upon a time," Ries introduces three birds named Ade, Emem, and Nuru that live on the back of an elephant on the African savanna. Theirs is a tranquil, symbiotic relationship. Sitting high up, the birds are safe from predators, and in return they feed off the insects on the elephant's skin. One day, a gust of wind blows in a bright, speckled feather that ends their peaceful existence. The birds squabble, as each one wants the feather for itself. Upset, the elephant demands the bickering end before they are allowed back on his back. Only when their lives are in danger do they finally understand their friendship is more valuable than the feather. This is an old story that has been told many times before. The setting may change, the characters may change, the intruding object may change, but the underlying story arc remains the same. What is truly special here is the beauty of the soft artwork, which has the feel of watercolor. In this translation from German (Die Fleckenfeder), debut author/illustrator Ries plays with color and perspective to great effect. Yellows and flecks of gold evoke the heat of the savanna. Close-ups make the squabbling feel immediate. And two double-page spreads in which a wild dog attacks the birds are outright gripping. A visual delight. (Picture book. 4-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.