How the Birds Became Friends
What’s inside...
The 2023 Storytelling World Award honoree is a captivating retelling of a Burmese folktale about Little Quail who feels lost amidst the constant fighting and chaos among the birds. In a world young and turbulent with disputes over superiority, Little Quail adopts a unique and kind approach to conflict, demonstrating the transformative power of kindness. The story is beautifully narrated by the award-winning storyteller Noa Baum and illustrated by the ecologist and artist Zev Labinger.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
4-7
Length
32 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What do you think made the birds decide to become friends?
How do you feel when you help a friend or when a friend helps you?
Which bird did you like the most and why?
Can you think of a time when you made a new friend? What did you do to become friends?
What do you think is the most important part of being a good friend?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to think about their personal experiences with friends while discussing the book.
Ask your child how the story could be different if the birds didn’t decide to become friends, to help them understand the value of friendship.
Praise your child for thoughtful answers, fostering a positive discussion environment.
Relate the birds’ actions to real-life scenarios that your child may encounter, making the themes of the book more relatable.
Use expressive reading, changing your tone of voice for different birds to make the reading session more engaging and entertaining.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: The value of friendship
Explanation: The story shows different birds overcoming challenges by working together, demonstrating the power of friendship.
Real-World Application: Children learn the importance of building and maintaining friendships to overcome obstacles they face in school or playground settings.
Example Lesson: Respect for diversity
Explanation: As various birds with different characteristics and abilities come together in harmony, the book celebrates diversity.
Real-World Application: This lesson encourages children to appreciate and respect people who are different from them, fostering inclusivity from a young age.
Example Lesson: Cooperation and teamwork
Explanation: The birds must collaborate to solve problems, highlighting how teamwork leads to success.
Real-World Application: Children understand the importance of working with others to achieve common goals in group projects or sports.
Example Lesson: Conflict resolution
Explanation: When conflicts arise among the birds, they learn to communicate and resolve their differences peacefully.
Real-World Application: This teaches children effective communication skills and peaceful conflict resolution tactics necessary for day-to-day interactions at school or with siblings.
Example Lesson: Empathy and understanding
Explanation: By listening to each other's viewpoints, the birds learn to empathize with one another's struggles.
Real-World Application: Children learn to empathize with peers and understand different perspectives, which is crucial for emotional development and social relationships.