Larsen, Andrew. The Bird Feeder. Illustrated by Dorothy Leung. Kids Can Press, 2022. 978-1-525-30483-5. Unpaged. $18.99. Grades K-6.

Grandma loves birds, and when illness causes her to move into her grandchild’s house, she brings her beloved bird feeder with her. Together, grandma and grandchild watch birds, talk, and draw together. When grandma moves to a hospice, Mom describes hospice as a place where she will be more comfortable and receive special care. The grandchild feels sad and hopeless about grandma’s move–unable to fully understand that is where she needs to be now… but over time realizes hospice isn’t a scary place and Grandma is still Grandma, even in this new place. On the child’s second visit, the bird feeder is hung outside the grandmother’s window, and they are back to watching, drawing, and spending time together. Over time, grandma sleeps more and spends more time in bed, waking when the therapy dog visits. One of the birds builds a nest in the birdfeeder tree. Grandma sees the nest, but her grandchild is sad that she passes away before she sees the birds leave the nest. The connection to grandma remains strong for the child, however, in the drawings hung around the house, the birdfeeder hung on a branch outside the bedroom window, and the child’s love of birds.

THOUGHTS: The Bird Feeder’s illustrations and text work together beautifully to tell a story that centers on terminal illness that is both comforting and honest. Mom is shown as a reassuring presence, and the grandchild could be a boy or girl, leaving the reader to connect to the child in their own way. Grandma is depicted growing more tired and less able as the book progresses, but she surrounded by love in family, the hospice facility dog, and the growing collection of artwork she and her grandchild created. The ending gives a nod to how our loved ones live in us, even when gone. A highly recommended, must-have for library shelves for the moment a child or family needs this book. 

Picture Book  Hannah J. Thomas, Central Bucks SD