A Funny Little Bird. illus. by author. 48p

Newcomer Yerkes plays with two-dimensional and three-dimensional space in her debut picture book featuring a central character that is all but invisible. The small trim size and generous white space throughout help emphasize the underlying moral: that pride and fancy adornments may not be the best policy if you want to make friends. A small bird is seen only as negative space in relation to its colorful background (though we get glimpses of eyes, beak, and legs). At first ignored or teased by the other animals, it decides to dress up in found objects, tucking vine tendrils, feathers from other birds, and seed pods under its wings. Now strutting about with newfound pride and self-absorption, it catches the eye of a hungry fox, who gives chase. Escaping by shedding its adornments, the bird quickly decides it's best to stay natural, but also determines to gain friends by using its camouflage to shield other animals from predators. The ending is a bit message-heavy, but the intriguing art elevates this book. Yerkes's illustrations are precise without feeling static. Large shapes and flowing lines are filled with flat color, gentle gradients, or subtle patterns, and every spread configures the white space so that children can always find the barely-there bird and parse the action. lolly robinson