How to Paint the Portrait of a Bird

Once in awhile, a very special book comes along that tells a story in a unique and creative way. "How to Paint the Portrait of a Bird" tells a story of a young boy that is awaken by a bird singing at his window. The boy decides to paint a portrait of this bird. The beauty of this story is how he goes about painting this portrait. When I read this to my 4 1/2-yr old, she was fascinated in the story. It speaks about having a goal, patience, the seasons, and respect for the natural progression of things. I rarely recommend books very highly, but this one is a must read.

This book caught my eye as I was leaving the bookstore because it does have a lovely cover illustration. However after glancing at a few pages and seeing the boy painting an empty cage for his bird, I knew this was a keeper and got it without even reading through it. When I got home and actually read the book I was even more impressed. The illustrations are warm and expressive and the story draws you in. I read it that night to my four year old and it instantly became her new favorite book. She liked it so much we must have read it two dozen times or more in the first week alone. Now I will find her sitting on the bed or floor and reading the book to herself, getting excited about the bird singing and talking about the bird flying home out of the painting. I really am sorry that another reviewer expected a how-to book and didn't page through it first. I am surprised that they didn't like the story but to each his own. We have now given this book as a gift for birthday parties of two friends as it is a lovely addition to a youngster's library. It will continue to be a favorite book and gift idea standby for years to come.

My daughter is a budding artist and the beauty of this book's cover called to us. This is not a how-to with step-by-step instructions for rendering feathers, but a colorful celebration of creativity and nature. This is a quiet tale, with spare language, beginning and ending with wordless pages. Be forewarned that some children will find it a little too quiet. To draw a bird, one must first draw a cage. With an open door. And some pretty things to attract the bird. My daughter enjoyed examining the illustrations for the items the boy painted onto his canvas. As the boy ventured outside, the book suggested the best place for him to find a bird. As often happens with five year-olds, we paused reading and began discussing the best place to find a bird near our home. I always welcome conversations prompted by books and other parents may appreciate the thought-provoking nature of this story. The book teaches patience, as a bird can take a very long time to visit the cage. Once the bird appears, it is then best to erase the cage and paint him a lovely tree. But will the bird sing? You'll have to read the book to find out. The fine lines of the illustrations are balanced by bold, vibrant colors, especially in the final nature scenes. By the end, readers are taught a gentle lesson about the beauty and wonder of nature and how to appreciate it. But this is a very mature perspective. My daughter simply looks forward to painting a portrait of a bird just as this poetic book suggests.

The text and illustrations combine to make a wonderful, beautiful book. Recommended as a great gift for an artist.