"In stunning spreads infused with warm, opalescent hues, the bird befriends a light-skinned girl and soars to eventually make a family. Otoshi superimposes blooming flowers and memories of the girl onto the ravens body, gently underscoring the impact of the childs kindness. A hopeful ending asks, If this raven flies from darkness and into the lightwhat could happen? Budding ornithologists will appreciate the authors note, which explains leucism and points out that though a group of ravens is called an unkindness, some white ravens thrive instead of being ostracized for being different. All readers will readily grasp the human parallels to bullying and healing: What possibilities may bloom when differences are met with kindness? Luminous, uplifting, and thought provoking." * Kirkus Reviews * "The illustrations are a potent mix of ethereal beauty and narrative strength. The opening spreads, with icy blue figures against a stark white background, frame the title raven in negative space, emphasizing its difference from the rest of its family. After it is cast out by the flock, details of the birds body and face emerge, clearly communicating its grief and loneliness. But hope comes with the arrival of a kind and sympathetic girl, and here the book truly shines and brings its message most effectively to life. * School Library Journal * Assonance propels rhythmic narration in Otoshis concept-driven story about a white raven. Interrogative lines frame each spread, with a pointed initial question providing a jumping-off point for deeper rumination: If a raven is born different,/ what could happen? Alongside fluid azure paintings, the queries trace the sorrowful possibility of rejection by other ravens (Will its mother PROTECT it.../ or REJECT it?). But the tone shifts to one of gentle hopefulness upon the arrival of a pale-skinned, dark-haired child who brings a palette of pinks and yellows to the page, as well as openhearted concern for the abandoned bird (Will she HELP it.../ or TEASE it?). And as the driving questions become loftier (Can fears be overcome.../ through understanding and LOVE?), the birds upward flight seems to provide an uplifting answer for readers to hold onto. An authors note anchors the story in scientific fact * Publishers Weekly * This quiet, contemplative picture book begins by asking what might happen to a raven born different. . . With sparse text (only a single line per spread) and bright inky, watercolor-like illustrations, this simple verse picture book encourages young readers to consider possibilities of trauma and healing . . . the book creates a gentle game of hide and seek for patient young readers, with the white raven almost hidden in initial spreads, tucked between branches, and then emerging in its true glorious self. * The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books *
