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Title: Odd Bird Out

Author: Helga Bansch

Translator: Monika Smith

Illustrator:

Publisher: Gecko Press

Date Published: 2008

Format: Hardback

Genre: Other

Book Category: Picture Book

Age Range: Under_5

Original Title: First published in German by Beltz & Gelberg in der Verlagsgruppe Beltz, Weinheim und Basel, Germany, 2007

Country of Origin: Germany

Odd Bird Out

by Helga Bansch
Age Range: Under_5

Robert is born a raven but soon bores by his black plumage and the sombre manner in which his birds of a feather go about their daily raven lives. When they don’t see the funny side of his practical jokes and are colour blind to his brightly hued fancy dress costumes, Robert decides to leave. Some time later, the ravens decide that maybe they do need their spirits lifted. A new, rainbow-coloured entertainer turns up to bring some sparkle in to their lives and he looks familiar! With those colourful feathers and vivacious manner… could it be Robert?

Written and illustrated by Helga Bansch this bright story celebrates diversity and being brave enough to stand out from the crowd and be individual. Bansch’s wonderful illustrations really bring Robert’s colour and creativity to life, as he appears in a better, brighter and more spectacular costume on every page.

Aimed at the older end of the under-five age range, this is very much a picture book. The narration is simple and clear and will evoke sympathy for Robert, as we see him grow isolated from and feel stifled by the raven community. The pictures however, are what really talk, showing how Robert stands out from the crowd, and showing he is special and individual, celebrating colour in contrast to the rest of the ravens. Children will enjoy looking at and discussing Robert’s costumes, as well as learning that everyone is special and that they should celebrate this, as is seen at the end when all the ravens throw off their black and embrace rainbow colour.

Overall, Odd Bird Out is a dazzling, feel-good array of colour with an upbeat, fun message that should be enjoyed by young readers. If there is one criticism to be made of this story, it is that occasionally Bansch’s pictures can overpower the narration. Whilst this story is aimed at young children and does not need an overly complicated plot or verbose narration, in places it seems to say very little, relying on the pictures. This might perhaps make it hard for Odd Bird Out to hold the attention of some younger readers who may want a more vivid plot over full-on illustration and may prefer a little more detail to make the story slightly more enthralling.

Abby Phillips (2011)

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