Review by Booklist Review
In a big city, a little sparrow finds her calling and helps flocks in need. New to the bright lights of New York City, Scoot (named for the repeated admonitions she receives from pedestrians) explores the skyline, savors gastronomical leftovers from the "sidewalk buffet," and is taken under the wing of Scram, a savvy older bird. Wanting to contribute to her community, Scoot orchestrates her street smarts and smooth moves into a plan to guide migrating birds safety past the dazzling, blinding lights from skyscrapers. Melodious, sprightly text charts the course: "Scoot led her flock / in a splendid show, / their kicks pointing north, / past the buildings' glow." Degen's detailed, bustling pencil-and-watercolor cartoons present a variety of perspectives, from aerial streetscape views to binocular-like closeups of Scoot in action. An identification guide to the landmarks and birds featured is included, along with an author's note about Audubon's Lights Out New York program. This picture book offers a bird's-eye view of the challenges and hazards that nature faces in the city.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Snappy, staccato text by Manushkin (Plenty of Hugs) energizes this metropolitan tale about a new New Yorker contributing to the city's welfare. Nesting on East 88th St., the recently arrived sparrow likes the city views and the smells of food vendors, and when fast-walking New York City pedestrians snap at her for landing on the sidewalk in pursuit of tasty morsels, she takes their exclamation--"Scoot!"--as her name. A wiser sparrow, Scram, gives advice: "Hop right! Hop left! Like so, kid: GO!" The eating is good, but watching working New Yorkers, from "shoemakers, dressmakers, and bakers" to the Rockettes, inspires Scoot. Aiming high, she organizes a crew of New York City sparrows that help migrating birds "dazed by New York's bright night," an act that boosts the bird's self-esteem in the bargain. In architecturally attentive pencil and gouache panels, Degen (the Magic School Bus series) zooms in tight to see action from a sparrow's-eye view, then pans wide to present famous city landmarks, changing perspectives to chime with the sparky narration in a title that shows how everyone has gifts to give. An author's note contextualizes the city's placement on the Atlantic Flyway. Ages 4--8. (Oct.)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 1--2--The sights and streets of New York City are brought into colorful focus in this sweet, if slightly meandering, story about a small sparrow, Scoot, who finds a new, important purpose for herself and her friends in the city that never sleeps. Even for those who do not recognize landmarks, the cityscapes engage with lively, bright colors and strong outlines to create busy scenes. With graphic novel-like panels guiding the action, readers are treated to close-up perspectives of chattering birds and bird's-eye views of the sky, buildings, cars, and bustling people. Rhyming text, composed into short, approachable verses, will appeal to those just stretching their independent reading skills or those seeking a story with connections to bird migration or urban life. Scoot's sudden involvement with directing migrating birds may surprise readers, as it abruptly introduces a previously unknown problem related to the city and its bird life, but her leadership brings about a rewarding change in her very name and sense of purpose. Notes from the author and illustrator, as well as a visual guide to the landmarks and birds included in the book, make up the back matter. VERDICT With memorable, colorful illustrations filled with New York City sights, this rhyming story ties together Scoot's ambitions to survive in the big city and kindly help others navigate the migration path.--Rachel Mulligan
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
Sparrows aren't birdbrains! When a little sparrow leaves her nest to investigate the big city, she starts on a journey that takes her all over New York City. Adopting the name Scoot--from the bustling pedestrians who constantly tell her to move aside--the sparrow meets older bird Scram, who shows her the ropes of living in the big city. Flying around a stylized Manhattan, the duo meet other sparrows, and the band of birds work together under Scoot's leadership to help migrating birds overcome the confusing glow of the city at night. Overcome with pride, Scoot and company rename themselves with more stylish monikers. Like real sparrows on the sidewalk, the story jumps and flutters erratically. The plot isn't helped by a rhyme scheme that doesn't always work: " 'You need street smarts,' / chirped an older bird. 'Hop right! Hop left! / Like so, kid: / GO!' / 'Okay,' she told him. / 'I'll give it a try.' / In two smart hops, / she snatched / a French fry!" Combined with busy gouache and pencil illustrations, the book feels confounded and cluttered. The brief description of New York City Audubon's program "Lights Out New York," which, Manushkin explains in her author's note, encourages buildings to turn off their lights during migration season, is interesting but doesn't integrate smoothly. Overall, this is an intriguing idea but poorly executed. (This book was reviewed digitally.) This one's for the birds. (illustrator's note, list of NYC landmarks featured in the story, list of birds included in the book) (Picture book. 6-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
