KEVIN AND THE BLACKBIRDS

An old saint’s tale inspires a brand-new spin on the act of caring for nature.

When Kevin’s impoverished parents hand him over to the nearby monastery, they vow that they’ll come for him when they’re able. While there, Kevin learns reading, hymns, and prayers, but the only thing that assuages his longing for his parents is his love of the natural world. The nearby animals grow to trust Kevin. So when the monks tell him he must now stay indoors to pray and study quietly, he can’t resist reaching his hands out a window to a blackbird. Soon the bird and its mate construct a nest in Kevin’s outstretched hands. Realizing that what’s happening is miraculous, the monks feed Kevin as his birds hatch, grow, and fledge. The tale ends with a wordless scene of Kevin reuniting with his parents as the whole countryside romps with the wild animals. In an author’s note, Almond points out that this adaptation of an Irish legend is about a saint for our times. Lynch brings his hyper-realistic style to bear on a world of frolicsome foxes, trusting birds, and studious monks. Many images, such as one of the nest thrust toward the audience, will remain in young minds long after the rest of the book has faded from memory. Characters present white.

When it comes to cultivating a love of nature, this oldest of stories has something to share with us all.