CROWBAR

Can a rescued crow become a pet?

A young boy spots a baby crow on the ground, unable to fly, and brings it home to nurse back to health. Mom warns him that this is a big challenge and that the weak crow could die. Grandpa warns that crows can be pests, which prompts the boy to research crow intelligence to prove him wrong. The narrator names the bird Crowbar. Within a month, Crowbar is flying, and though he lives outside, he doesn’t abandon his human friend. He taps on the boy’s bedroom window and caws to wake him every morning. The boy learns a bit of crow language but can’t get the bird to speak English. Crowbar begins snatching articles in his beak—a bracelet, a coin, a spoon. Crowbar uses the coin as a kind of surfboard to go down a slide, impressing even Grandpa. Despite his affection, Crowbar is also alert to the call of nature and eventually leaves, ready to live in the wild. Two of George’s three children are listed as collaborators on the Newbery Medalist’s final picture-book text; together they find the perfect balance of warmth and information. Minor’s lovely illustrations use a slightly subdued palette, giving the bird plenty of personality without anthropomorphizing him and depicting his human family as White. Two pages of facts about crows and suggestions for further reading conclude the book. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Sweet story of nature and nurturing.