Review by Booklist Review
Notable author-illustrator Say draws upon a personal childhood experience in this bittersweet story of a boy and a special bird. When a boy comes upon village bullies holding a weakened baby sparrow, he determines to rescue it. After trading them his special possessions, he carefully carries the bird home. His parents think the bird is beyond help, but with the boy's careful nurturing, the sparrow, which he names Kozo ("Little Boy"), thrives. Soon, boy and bird are enjoying playtime and sweet moments together. At his teacher's request, he brings Kozo to school, but when his classmates distress Kozo, the boy runs home, only to encounter the bullies again--leading him to make a decision to ensure Kozo's well-being and safety, even if it means being without his feathered friend. The boy's straightforward narrative gently relates the progression of the pair's mutually rewarding relationship and the meaningfulness of care and kindness, themes furthered in Say's soft, realistic, and expressive watercolor illustrations. Say's endnote provides story background and context, including about growing up in post-WWII Japan and the real-life Kozo.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Drawing this story from his experiences as a child in post-WWII rural Japan, per an author's note, Say (Miss Irwin) offers a tender narrative about a youth who saves a baby sparrow from a group of village bullies. Though the protagonist usually runs from "the three bad boys," they become interested when one holds, then pokes at, at a young bird: "Just then I wanted the tiny baby more than anything in the world." The narrator bargains hard for it and names it Kozo (meaning "Little Boy"), working out how to help it survive ("Just like a mother bird I put the rice in his throat and he swallowed"). The two discover how to play together (over a cold noodle, "I pulled and he pulled back"), the child refuses to clip the sparrow's wings, and the wild bird wins over both the youth's mother and classroom teacher, who invites the protagonist to bring Kozo to school. Though the end to this childhood idyll is sharp and unexpected, the portrait of devotion makes the buildup all the more meaningful, and softly colored pen, ink, and watercolor vignettes give delight to the brief relationship between child and sparrow. Ages 4--8. (Oct.)
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Review by Horn Book Review
As he often does, Say retells a moving story from his childhood in post-WWII Japan. An eight-year-old boy rescues an injured baby sparrow from some bullies intent on tormenting it, trading them everything he can think of, including his father's American baseball. When he arrives home, his mother is sympathetic but not especially hopeful, while his father shouts, "Nothing can save that creature!" Resolute, the boy names the bird Kozo and figures out how to nurse it back to health. One day Kozo escapes -- but the two have grown close, and the bird flies back to the boy. When his well-meaning teacher persuades him to bring the bird to show his class, promising to keep the other children away, things don't go as planned, and he leaves school with the bird, only to find the same bullies waiting outside for him. He runs and runs but realizes the only thing to do is to open the birdcage; the final spread is wordless, showing a flock of sparrows in the sky and Kozo flying away, presumably joining them. The ending is sudden and heartbreaking, but the boy has again saved his beloved bird; an author's note closes the affecting book. Say's pen, ink, and watercolor illustrations depict with equal clarity the rural Japanese setting and the young protagonist's quiet determination and devotion. Jennifer M. BrabanderNovember/December 2023 p.68 (c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Letting go can be the hardest--and kindest--thing to do. A beige-skinned, dark-haired, East Asian--presenting boy interrupts some bullies bothering a helpless baby sparrow and, in exchange for a few treasures, convinces them to give him the animal. Against his parents' admonitions, the boy uses a straw to feed the bird and names him Kozo. Day by day, Kozo gets stronger and forms a special bond with the boy, chirping and flapping his wings with excitement when the child returns home from school. Even when Kozo gets loose outside, he comes right back to the boy. The boy's teacher encourages him to bring Kozo to school to show the other children. Worried about Kozo's safety, the boy nevertheless agrees when the teacher promises to keep a close eye on the class. However, the other children chase Kozo and frighten him, and then after school, the bullies return. To keep his friend safe, the boy makes a difficult decision to do the kindest thing, even if it hurts. Realistic illustrations rendered in watercolor, dip pen and brush, and pencil rely on ample white space to spotlight the boy's connection with Kozo. This poignant yet straightforward narrative navigates complex themes of friendship, loneliness, kindness, and bravery. An author's note explains that the story is based on an experience in Say's childhood growing up in postwar Japan. (This book was reviewed digitally.) A deeply personal tale that underscores the power of kindness. (Picture book. 5-9) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
