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diminished, we are starved’
(The Times, Magnus Linklater 29/06/05)
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A Dream of Birds
by Shenaz Patel
Age Range: 6-8
Sara has inherited her love of birds from her grandfather and from seeing the wonderful show the creatures put on in his yard each day. On a beautiful summer morning, as Sara walks to school in her island town she spots a new birdhouse full of parakeets in someone’s yard. The birds remind Sara of her grandfather and she feels drawn to them but just as she approaches the owner comes out and shouts at her so she runs away.
Sara can’t stop thinking about the beautiful birds locked up inside the birdhouse and remembers the magnificent displays of colour and the concert the birds provided as they descended into her grandfather’s yard. So what happens the next time when Sara finds the door to the birdhouse unlocked?
This charming poetic story by Mauritian author Shenaz Patel, translated by Edwige-Renée Dro, is set on the African island of Mauritius. Patel shows Sara’s love of nature and brings an understanding of her motive and well-meaning action. Together with the rich artwork by French illustrator Emmanuelle Tchoukriel it vividly brings to life the beautiful birds from the island of Mauritius A Dream of Birds provides a compassionate message about respecting nature and looking after it. As the publisher’s note at the back of the book says “While Sara’s story is one of longing for freedom – for herself and for the birds in the little birdhouse – it’s also a wish for our future: that we humans will learn to take better care of our beautiful winged friends and keep dreaming of a better world.”