Honeybird Blue

Taunya English is a naturalist in Maryland, where she leads outings that celebrate connections between the land and culture. Like Honeybird, Taunya loves birding by ear. The sounds from her nature adventures show up in her stories, and every story is an invitation to come out and play. Follow Taunya’s writing at taunyaenglish.substack.com. Raissa Figueroa is a Coretta Scott King Honor-winning illustrator and graphic designer based in San Diego, California. Her art graces picture books such as Princess Unlimited, by Jacob Sager Weinstein, and Oona, by Kelly DiPucchio. You can learn more at rizzyfig.com.

A young Black girl and her dad wake up before dawn and drive to a wildlife refuge to go birding. The girl, Honeybird, refers to birds by their color, and her big objective for this trip is to spot a great blue heron. English’s writing joyfully reflects her subjects, and it’s clear that Honeybird finds the refuge as much of a sanctuary as the birds do, and her pleasure over being there—despite Blue’s elusiveness—can be seen in Figueroa’s luminous mixed-media illustrations, which use light and reflection to wonderful effect. — Booklist, starred reviewFigueroa’s lush illustrations pull readers into a swirling, many-hued exploration of nature; youngsters will feel as though they are rollicking along by Honeybird’s side. A surprise ending celebrates the rewards of patience, resilience, and creative thinking. Facts about birding and bird species are effortlessly laced through English’s lively text, along with expanded information in the backmatter. Nature lovers of all ages will delight in spending a day with Pop and Honeybird. A joyfully immersive ode to birding sure to inspire the next generation. — Kirkus ReviewsIn the predawn morning, a young Black girl named Honeybird and her Pop roll up to a nature preserve in their trusty RV and then gear up for Honeybird’s favorite activity, birding. The girl’s narration is buoyant and awed as she enthusiastically searches the trees and skies, traipsing through scenes in some jazzy yellow rainboots and sporty green overalls. The luminous artwork, with brushstroke-like textures and bold saturation, deftly plays with point of view, giving readers a full idea of the natural setting. The various birdcalls Honeybird makes would be particularly useful in a call-and-response storytime, and the birding glossary and thumbnails of more bird info will easily prep little ones for their own outdoor adventure. — BCCBFirst-person narration savvily incorporates avian motifs and vocabulary in English and Figueroa’s engrossing account of a family birdwatching expedition. An appealing luminosity infuses atmospheric digital paintings for an effect that’s at once soothing and optimistic. This evenhanded, realistic chronicle supportively focuses on specific aspects of engaging with the natural world. — Publishers Weekly