Beaky CL

'Beaky' is easily one of my favorite childhood books. With its brilliant cover portraying the awkward creature we all start out as, all the way through the perfectly illustrated & narrated scenes, the story cannot get any better. A few weeks ago, I reread this after at least ten years passed by and it brought back so many good memories. Not only that, but it helped me realize what I had almost forgotten what I learned as a child-that we are our own individuals; our own unique selves. This is one of the best reminders for anybody, whether they're going into the first grade or their first year in college. It also reaches into the deepest depths of life and reminds us of so many things everyone forgets as they grow old. So if you haven't had the chance, read Beaky ASAP!!

Every single night I had to swap between this book and Goodnight Moon. My daughter loved this book. I made the frog have a croaky voice, snake had a hissy voice, fish had a bbbrrrbb voice, and mother sang. When she was older, she wanted to know what a bird of paradise really sounded like. So we looked it up on an on-line encyclopedia and listened. Her eyes were so big and bright. "It is beautiful Mommy, but I like your Bird of Paradise better." HA! Great pictures and a story that will capture every child's imagination.

This book recalls the lessons of the classic fairy-tale of "The Ugly Duckling." When Beaky is separated from his mother at birth, he feels totally inadequate because he can't hop or swim or slither like the other creatures of the rain-forest floor. Fortunately, he is befriended by a frog who encourages him to keep searching for his true nature. The book ends with his song of triumph "...I'm a bird, a bird of Paradise!"

Beaky is our all-time favorite kids imagination book. With a little thought we came up with how each creature would sound. From the sssssssss-of Sammy the snake to the underwater bubbly voice of the fish, my girls thought it was great fun to read Beaky EVERY night. I would suggest that every child read and be read Beaky.