Warble offered her insects to eat.
She liked them.
The human, in return, offered
Warble gifts and showed him
how to fold intricate paper
things.
And there they stayed ... "
Warble is a small, and very observant, yellow warbler living on an icy island that affords him great joy in his life. He loves to watch the many different people who visit this special place. When a fog envelops it, he does his best to help it dissipate. When that doesn't work, he asks his avian neighbors what they think of it. They barely notice it, expressing little concern over the changes occurring.
Warble is concerned. With no visitors to watch, and without much to see beyond the mistiness of this new grey world, Warble adopts a sense of ennui himself. Then, one morning, he sees ' a colorful speck' approaching. (#673 RED-HOODED SPECTACLED FEMALE (JUVENILE)). The two find each other. Warble can't believe his good luck! They enjoy many of the same things.
After some time spent together, he mentions the fog. The human also sees it.
"Warble asked the human if she thought there
were others who saw the fog too. She was unsure.
How could they find out?"
Two heads are better than one. They do their research, and make the discovery that others have also noticed the fog. Perhaps, with help, they can make a difference to its hold on the island.
Kenard Pak 'used pencil, watercolor and digital work to make the illustrations for this book'. Brilliantly, I will add. The threat of the fog and the joy found in human interaction add just the right touch to this lovely story. There is humor, and poignancy as well. Be sure to spend time pouring over the endpapers front and back to meet just some of the human characters Warble has observed as they spend time on his beautiful iceland.
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