ODDBIRD'S CHOSEN FAMILY

Oddbird finds himself wishing for a family of his own.

The titular protagonist is used to being the odd one out; in Oddbird (2023), he was initially rebuffed by the other, more brightly hued birds for his gray, colorless appearance. Though he eventually makes friends, a visit to his pal Jerry’s house—filled with warmth and chattering family members—throws Oddbird’s lack of a family into stark relief. As Oddbird walks home later, he notices bird families swimming, rollerblading (with helmets), riding a tandem bike (sans helmets), flying a kite, and picnicking. On the next spread—the only one without a white background—a sad-looking Oddbird appears alone, off-center, against a deep-blue swirling background. A few weeks later, he’s about to celebrate his birthday on his own when his friends burst in with a cake. “You didn’t think you would celebrate alone, did you?” asks Jerry. Oddbird realizes that although his family may look different, it’s just as loving and supportive as the others he’s observed. This stand-alone sequel features the same brilliantly colored and textured illustrations as the first book. While Oddbird is a somewhat passive character—it’s his friends who carry the day at the end—the positive message about chosen families shines nonetheless; children who are part of nontraditional families will feel seen.

A reassuring reminder that families come in all forms.