Broadway Bird
What’s inside...
A charming and heartfelt picture book about a little bird named Louisa who dreams of making it big on Broadway. Living in Times Square, she loves to sing as loud as she wants, all day and night. Despite being told she's too small, Louisa's big break comes and she learns that with talent and hard work, anyone can make it big on Broadway. This story by Tony Award-winning director Alex Timbers, with illustrations by Alisa Coburn, teaches persistence, self-belief, and the magic of Broadway.
Age
4-6
Length
40 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What do you think Broadway Bird felt when he first arrived in the big city?
How do you think being different helped or hindered Broadway Bird on his adventures?
What would you do if you were Broadway Bird and encountered the challenges he faced?
Can you think of a time when you felt like you didn't fit in, like Broadway Bird? What did you do?
What does the story of Broadway Bird teach us about friendship and perseverance?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to express their feelings about the story and relate it to their own experiences.
Ask your child to describe their favorite part of the book and why it stood out to them.
Discuss the various characters with your child and explore what each character might represent in terms of life lessons.
Use the story as an opportunity to talk about the importance of embracing differences and trying new things.
After reading, engage in a creative activity like drawing scenes from the book or acting out a part of the story together.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Teamwork and collaboration
Explanation: In 'Broadway Bird', the protagonist bird works together with other animals to put on a grand musical show, demonstrating the importance of collaboration.
Real-World Application: Children can apply this lesson by participating in group activities at school or in sports, learning how to cooperate and value each team member's contribution.
Example Lesson: Pursuing dreams with perseverance
Explanation: The book follows the bird as it overcomes various obstacles to achieve its dream of performing on Broadway, showing children that persistence is key to success.
Real-World Application: This encourages children to persist in their goals, whether learning a new skill or completing a difficult school project, highlighting the value of perseverance.
Example Lesson: Creativity and self-expression
Explanation: Through its engaging narrative about staging a Broadway show, the story celebrates creativity and the arts, encouraging children to express themselves in imaginative ways.
Real-World Application: Children are inspired to explore their own creative interests, be it drawing, dancing, or writing, fostering an environment of self-expression and innovation.
Example Lesson: Coping with rejection
Explanation: The bird faces rejection but learns to handle setbacks positively, imparting a resilient mindset to young readers.
Real-World Application: This teaches children resilience, helping them to understand that rejection and failure are part of life and can be faced constructively, leading to personal growth and learning.