The Bird Feeder by Andrew Larsen, Dorothy Leung
Published by Kids Can Press on October 4, 2022
ISBN: 1525304836
Pages: 40
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads

When Grandma gets sick and comes to stay at her grandchild’s house, she brings her bird feeder. The child loves the time they now get to have together, watching the birds, drawing pictures, and talking. Grandma’s health declines, and she moves to hospice. Hanging Grandma’s bird feeder outside the window there makes things better. Eventually, grandma dies but the child hangs a bird feeder out the window to remember her by. This book has a sweet premise but there were a few plot points to consider before purchasing or sharing with a class or read aloud group: the grandmother is taken to hospice while the child is at school and the child comes home to find grandmother gone. Although the pictures convey what happened, that grandmother has died, it is never addressed in the text, “I’m glad Grandma saw the baby birds. I’m sad she won’t see them leave their nest.” This picture book could be useful to parents of children whose grandparent has died, but they should be prepared to further discuss the topic with age-appropriate vocabulary.

Reviewed by Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library