#545 of 1001 · January 27, 2022

Michael Moniz explores a complex emotional dynamic through the interactions of a flock of birds in The Cardinal and the Crow. The story opens on the edge of a small forest where discord thrives among the birds. The crow is an outcast, an object of derision for the other birds, who taunt him and call him ugly. The ringleader, a bright red cardinal, seems to take particular delight in the bullying. The crow, for his part, takes to squawking loudly in order to drive off the other birds. One day, after the cardinal is captured by a cat and about to be eaten, the crow uses cunning flattery to convince the cat to let out a victory roar, and the cardinal is able to make a hasty escape. From then on, no one bothers the crow, and all the birds live in harmony. With a narrative inspired by Aesop’s fables and soft, muted washes of black, red, brown, and gray, Moniz creates a stunning parable of exclusion, forgiveness, and understanding. #cardinal #crow #bird #birds #cat #animal #animals #bullying #book #books #childrensbooks #beautifulbooks #picturebook #picturebooks #picturebookillustration #picturebookart #childrensbookillustration #childrensliterature #illustration #kidlit #kidsbooks #bookworm #booklover #booklovers #bibliophile #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookstagrammers #instabook #instabooks