“This circular story has the ring of an Indian folk tale. Its art strikingly contrasts the warm bright colors of silks and spices with the lush turquoise of peacock feathers.” —The New York Times

“Zia expertly code-switches between Indian language-inspired slang and standard English, rendering the narratorial voice pleasantly distinct…. The author’s use of the rule of threes…strikes a beautifully balanced storyline that is predictable yet surprising. The pictures accompanying the text are full of color and motion, depicting a lush, rural landscape and perfectly supporting the quick-moving protagonist. Three cheers for this feisty girl of color and her big imagination.” —Kirkus Reviews

“The musicality of the prose, dotted with Hindi expressions, lends a folkloric tone to this whimsical tale. The illustrations are lush and cheerful, countering the idea that the loss of the feather is to be mourned. A surprise ending will have readers predicting the sequel to this just-for-fun story.” —Booklist

“Buoyant…a prime candidate for reading aloud.” —Publishers Weekly

Parents’ Choice Silver Honor —Parents’ Choice Foundation, 2020

Farhana Zia spent her early years in Hyderabad, India. A retired elementary school teacher, her stories blend humor and tradition, memories and contemporary moments. She is the author of the novels The Garden of My Imaan and Child of Spring and the picture books Hot Hot Roti for Dada-ji and Lali’s Feather. She lives in Massachusetts and enjoys reading, writing and making French macarons.

Stephanie Fizer Coleman is an illustrator and freelance designer. She has created the art for many children’s books and loves drawing animals. For her 100 Days project in 2018, she drew one hundred birds, one day at a time. You can visit her website here.

“Clever design… Count guidelines are smoothly worked into Richmond’s narrative… An engaging, informative introduction. ” —Kirkus Reviews

“An instructive and attractive picture book for aspiring ornithologists and young nature aficionados.” —Publishers Weekly

“Soft, detailed illustrations bring the winter world to life, depict many bird species, and capture the sounds and feelings of a chilly winter day. Readers will love searching for birds along with Ava and her companions…. This book introduces elementary school readers to the world of birds and citizen science in an accessible, ­welcoming way.” —School Library Journal

“A wonderful introduction to bird-watching and the concept of observing nature… Parents be warned: this book is so appealing that, come next December, you may find yourself out in the cold, counting birds.” —Booklist Online

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“This charming and handsomely illustrated story…is accurate in detail, and it wonderfully captures a young person’s enthusiasm.” —Wayne R. Petersen, Director of Massachusetts Important Bird Area (IBA) Program

“Great book on citizen scientists.  A must read and should be in all public and elementary school libraries.”—Terry Young, retired librarian and former judge for the AAAS/Subaru Science Books & Films Prize for Excellence in Science Books

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Capitol Choices Noteworthy Books for Children and Teens —Capitol Choices, 2020

Parents’ Choice Silver Honor Award—Parents’ Choice Foundation, 2019

Susan Edwards Richmond teaches preschool on a farm and wildlife sanctuary in eastern Massachusetts. She earned her M.A. in Creative Writing from the University of California, Davis, and is the author of five collections of nature-based poetry for adults. She is happiest exploring natural habitats with her husband and two daughters, and learns the native birds wherever she travels. You can visit her website here.

Stephanie Fizer Coleman is an illustrator and freelance designer. She has created the art for many children’s books and loves drawing animals. For her 100 Days project in 2018, she drew one hundred birds, one day at a time. You can visit her website here.