 | Kevin and the blackbirds Author: Almond, David | |
| Price: $14.24 | ||
Summary:
When Kevin is sent to a monastery to be cared for, he yearns for the freedom of the forest. One day as he reaches out to the sky, a blackbird lands in his hands and builds its nest there. Kevin waits patiently as the eggs are laid and the baby chicks hatch, and at last three new wild things fly off into the world. A retelling of an ancient Irish tale.
| Illustrator: | Lynch, Patrick James |
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (07/01/24)
Booklist (+) (07/01/24)
Full Text Reviews:
Booklist - 07/01/2024 *Starred Review* In medieval Ireland, a boy named Kevin is taken to a monastery by parents who can no longer afford to keep him, though they promise to bring him home when times are better. Meanwhile, Kevin works for the monks, who teach him hymns, prayers, and reading. He is content, though happiest when his work is done and he can roam the countryside, befriending wild creatures. As he grows older, the monks order him to stay indoors more, but Kevin longs for sunlight. He stretches his arms out the window, and two blackbirds build their nest in his hands. Fed by the monks and the birds, Kevin stays in the same position until three eggs are laid in the nest and the chicks hatch, fledge, and fly away. Released by the monks, Kevin returns home with his parents. English novelist Almond, who has won prestigious writing awards on both sides of the Atlantic, based this story on an Irish legend about Saint Kevin. Lynch’s beautiful illustrations transport readers effortlessly to another time period through a combination of realistic and well-imagined visual elements. The watercolor and gouache paintings bring the distant past to life as the story unfolds throughout this handsome picture book. - Copyright 2024 Booklist.
