The Feathered Crown - Hardcover

Hayles, Marsha

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0805064214 ISBN 13: 9780805064216

Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR), 2002

Synopsis

An intimate look at Baby Jesus' welcome into the world, told from the loving perspective of a flock of mother birds.

"The mother birds
Like gentle words
Took wing one wintry day."

Through sun and rain, across mountains and plains, a flock of mother birds journey on, growing in number and determination. A yearly migration? Yes, but so much more.

Landing at last, the mother birds gather leaves and feathers as they prepare an offering for a very special birthday. Their gift? A soft, downy bed and a loving welcome for the newborn King - baby Jesus!

About this title

About the Author:

Marsha Hayles is the author of several books for young children, including Beach Play and He Saves the Day. Her inspiration for The Feathered Crown arose from a simple discovery; bird books so often feature colorful male birds in favor of the less vivid females. Once her imagination alighted on an image of female birds filling the sky, this story took flight. Ms. Hayles lives in Pittsford, New York, with her family.

Bernadette Pons has illustrated many books for children, including Mouse Cleaning and Tickle Tum! While painting The Feathered Crown, she was especially moved by the bond of motherhood - filled with strength and love - that propels the story forward. An internationally known artist whose work has been exhibited at the Bologna Book Fair, Ms. Pons lives with her three daughters and husband in Paris, France.

From Booklist:

K-Gr. 2. "The mother birds, / Like gentle words, / Took wing one wintry day." Their long journey crosses plains and seas to a warm land, a "sea of sand," where they " . . . build a home, / A manger throne, / A feather-softened nest" for a weary mother with a swaddled baby. "She thanked the birds / With gentle words / And put her Son to bed. / A feathered crown / of humble down / Soon warmed the new King's head." The simplicity and originality of this nativity narrative sets it apart from other tales about the animals' Christmas. The sounds, in the spare, rhyming text, mirror the gentle, hushed tone of the watercolor illustrations. Subtle shifts in perspective enhance the flight and ground scenes, and the yellow baby bird clinging to its mother's neck or leg in every spread imparts a sweet touch. This tender, loving story shaped by the bond of motherhood adds an unusual feather to the crown of nativity stories. Julie Cummins
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

About this edition

• Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
• Publication date: 2002
• ISBN 10: 0805064214
• ISBN 13: 9780805064216
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 32
• Illustrator: Pons Bernadette