Seven: A Most Remarkable Pigeon, written by Sandra Nickel and illustrated by Aimee Sicuro. Candlewick Press, Penguin Random House. 2025. $23.99 ages 4 and up

 

"Seven's mother swooped down and hurried 
Seven to the park. "Pigeons stay with the flock," 
she said. "We stay with the flock."

But Seven couldn't help himself. He snuck back 
to the rice-covered street whenever he could. 
Its nutty perfume made him feel warm and cozy."

Seven's arrival sends shock waves through his avian community. After all, pigeons mostly hatch in pairs. As a single nestling, Seven finds himself being gossiped about from the very beginning. He soon proves that he is different from his flock. While still in the nest, he is attentive to the many delightful odors that fill the air. As soon as he can fly, he is off to find the source of such wonder. Bringing rose petals back to the nest causes distress for his parents. 

When invited to join the rest of the flock on a trip to the park for the crumbs people leave, Seven chooses to eat rice grains instead. It's the smell that attracts him. His mother reminds him that the flock sticks together at all times. Once again, he is the quietly ridiculed by members of his flock. Wanting his son to be more like the others, Seven's father decides he should learn about homing, the heart of being a pigeon. 

Off they go to find a train to board that will take them from the city to the country. Seven is encouraged to make a map in his mind by carefully watching their environment. While watching, Seven is taken in by the scent of the evergreens below him. He is totally distracted from his father's teaching. Alarmed, his father is quick to share his concerns with Seven's mother. 

"Seven's mother gave Seven a stern look. 
"From now on, pigeons act like pigeons."

So Seven gathered straw, 

and crumbs with the flock, 

and practiced homing with his father."

It all makes Seven feel very sad. The time comes for the Big Flight. Every member of the flock prepares for the long journey. A train takes them to a place seven thousand miles away. From there, they will find their way home. Or will they? Young readers will be thrilled to learn that Seven's sense of smell is just what is needed to home. 

A final note about pigeons brings the book to an end.