Storybook Corner Book Review: The Go-Away Bird (Children's Picture Book) + related children's craft

The Go-Away Bird

by 

Julia Donaldson

illustrated by Catherine Rayner

Publisher: Pan Macmillan Australia
Publication date: 26th February 2019
Pages: 32
RRP: $24.99
Format Read: Hardcover
Source: Courtesy of the publisher

 

‘The Go-Away bird sat up in her nest, With her fine grey wings and her fine grey crest.’ One by one, the other birds fly into her tree, wanting to talk or to play, but the Go-Away bird just shakes her head and sends them all away. But then the dangerous Get-You bird comes along, and she soon realizes that she might need some friends after all . . .

The Go-Away Bird combines brilliant rhyming verse from much-loved children’s author Julia Donaldson, creator of the bestselling picture books The Gruffalo and What the Ladybird Heard, with stunning illustrations from the CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal-winning Catherine Rayner.  

Julia Donaldson’s name is always synonymous with delightful picture books for children and she doesn’t disappoint with her latest offering The Go-Away Bird.

The Go-Away Bird is a beautifully crafted hard cover picture book with blue foil lettering and highlights on the birds wings on the cover, giving it additional shelf appeal.

On the title page the star of the story sits alone, just how she likes it, in an exquisitely illustrated tree.

Different birds drop by to engage the Go-Away bird but each time she shakes her head and with a few mean words tells each little bird, not too kindly, to go away. Then a very large Get-You bird comes by and he doesn’t listen to the Go-Away bird, instead shouting “I’m going to get you, get you."  The Go-Away bird was getting very scared now until one little bird called for all the other birds to come back and together they chased the big bird away.

Sometimes you feel like being left alone but you shouldn’t be mean and  hurtful to others, it’s always good to have friends close by when you are feeling scared. There is also a lesson on forgiving someone who is angry and mean and giving them a second chance.

Dot loved this story of friendship and working together and is happy to have it read over and over joining in with the story.

The watercolour illustrations are bright and engaging. The rhyming is fun and the prose flow seamlessly. The repetition of key words makes it easy for children to join in which in turn makes the story more engaging.

Dot’s favourite bird was the Chit-Chat bird. The other birds having equally delightful names; the Peck-Peck bird, the Flip-Flap bird and the Come-Back bird.

Dot and I decided to make our own birds using the colours in the book as inspiration. The Go-Away bird is sitting on a branch looking suitably annoyed by all the birds flying down to play with her. All the birds are simply made from coloured carded paper and feathers.

 Rated by Dot  5 / 5  🐦🐦🐦🐦🐦

Julia Donaldson is the author of some of the world's best-loved children's books, including the modern classic The Gruffalo, which has sold over 17 million copies worldwide, and the hugely successful What the Ladybird Heard adventures. Julie also writes fiction, including the Princess Mirror-Belle books illustrated by Lydia Monks, as well as poems, plays and songs - and her brilliant live shows are always in demand.






About the Illustrator 

Catherine Rayner studied illustration at Edingurgh College of Art. Catherine won the Best New Illustrator Award at the Booktrust Early Years Awards for Augustus and His Smile and has been awarded the prestigious CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal. Catherine's other title for Macmillan include the critically acclaimed Solomon Crocodile and the award-winning Smelly Louie.