The Speckled Feather
Feather-ruffling fun!
In the wide savanna there are three birds named Ade, Emem, and Nuru, that live on the back of an elephant. They are best friends. But one day the wind blows a bright speckled feather into their midst, and in no time their peacefulness is over.
A thought-provoking story about friendship by debut author-illustrator Johanna Ries.
What is truly special here is the beauty of the soft artwork, which has the feel of watercolor.... Close-ups make the squabbling feel immediate. And two double-page spreads in which a wild dog attacks the birds are outright gripping…..A visual delight.
Kirkus Review
This theme of bickering companions who discover the value and need of friendship is common in fables, but it is given a fresh and inventive spin here, with plenty of lively dialogue perfect for classroom readers’ theater performances and gorgeous amber-hued illustrations that play beautifully with perspective and exude the heat and feel of an African savanna.
The Horn Book
Unusually stunning drawings accompany this African drama. You will marvel at the scene of darkened elephants at night with white birds on their backs.
Charles Sutton, Vermont Country Sampler
- Society of Illustrators Original Art, 2021