A Funny Little Bird - Tapa dura

"A sweet story with a sublimely subtle but infinitely clever premise and ending, this is a tale about adaptation, camouflage, acceptance, pride, and standing out by blending in. It's a metaphor for introverts and the unsung heroes in our lives. Strange and lovely all at once, here's one book that turns simplicity into an art . . . Beautiful with a wit of its own, Yerkes shows that you don't have to be flashy to be remarkable. " - Besty Bird, School Library Journal's A Fuse 8 Production

"This sweet tale about a precocious young bird helps kids learn what humility, kindness and selflessness are all about." - Working Mother

"The simple, jewel-toned illustrations pop against abundant white space, making a crisp and vivid presentation . . . Yerkes gives a nod of respect to the youngest readers with a sprinkling of more sophisticated vocabulary and elegantly understated art that blend together in a sweet and lovely package.
" - School Library Journal

"The artist explores with gentle humor the meaning of identity, both visual and metaphorical . . . This highly original and thought-provoking picture book will appeal to the peek-a-boo sensibilities of the youngest readers and also have aesthetic appeal for parents." - Kirkus

"In this inspiring debut picture book, a white feathered hero feels invisible--until he discovers that what he thought was a drawback is, in fact, an asset." - Shelf Awareness for Readers

"[A] slim, stylish fable . . . Considering how pared down and elemental Yerkes's illustrations are, they generate quite a bit of visual humor and suspense, not to mention personality for the story's silent hero." - Publishers Weekly

"There are hundreds of books about being different and embracing one's uniqueness. Ironically, A Funny Little Bird by graphic artist Jennifer Yerkes about a lonely, invisible bird, truly stands out! . . . Yerkes's crsip yet sparse artwork manages to be fluid, fresh and fun, a beautiful blend of Jon Klassen meets Lois Ehlert. A Funny Little Bird is truly this year's must have for self-esteem building! " - Good Reads with Ronna, Parenthood.com

"Jennifer Yerkes likewise celebrates the fun of forms found in negative space in her tale of an "almost invisible" bird who appears mostly as an absence. . . . flat, bright shapes collude with white space to yield the joy of discovery for the viewer . . . Grade A." - Cleveland Plain Dealer

"The small trim size and generous white space throughout help emphasize the underlying moral: that pride and fancy adornments may not be the best policy if you want to make friends . . . the intriguing art elevates this book." - Horn Book

"Fresh and innovative . . . [a] remarkable debut picture book." - Shelf Awareness Pro

2013 Society of Illustrators, Original Art Gold Medal Winner

A lonely, invisible bird mistakenly believes that adorning himself with flashy feathers and flowers will make him beautiful and win him new friends. Except his plan quickly backfires when his magnificent plumage attracts the attention of everyone, even the fox! In his rush to safety the little bird loses every last bit of his new decorations, making him invisible once again. Except now in place of his loneliness is the knowledge that putting others first is the key to friendship and high self-esteem.