Yeti and the Bird

PreS-Gr 2—A huge white yeti is lonely but not alone: the other forest animals are afraid of him and hide. His ghostlike image in a night-time stream achingly reflects his sorrow. Then a small orange bird who has lost her way crashes into him. He roars ("'RAAARGH!'"), but she is not scared. Realizing this is not the tropical island she had hoped to find, she begins to cry. Yeti takes her home and cares for her, and the next morning—to the astonishment of the other animals—they play. At night they sing "sweet, sad songs together," like lullabies. As the weather becomes colder, Yeti studies maps, packs worm jam sandwiches, and watches his friend fly away. But Yeti will not remain lonely. In a marvelous spread, the other animals come out to play. Winter becomes spring, and Yeti has many new friends—and an old friend who "pops by to say hello." Yeti is an exceptionally appealing character with his small head, tiny eyes, and great hairy body. In the first of many wonderful spreads, he is depicted as mountainlike. Just as the orange bird brightens Yeti's world, these two will warm the hearts of young readers. Told with exceptional economy and striking art, this tale of an unusual friendship is a great choice for all libraries.—Mary Jean Smith, formerly at Southside Elementary School, Lebanon, TN