"I made this journey when I was small like you.
I was afraid then too," she said.
As she spoke, she noticed a
small chick lagging behind.
It was Toto, collapsed on the dry
earth, exhausted by the heat."
Bibi is the oldest flamingo in her flock. It is evident that she holds a special place in the hearts of its members. After all, she has taught each one of them some very important lessons: graceful dancing, feather preening, standing on one leg, nest building, and welcoming new chicks.
When the summer sun dries up their lake, there is an urgent need to find food and get out of the hot sun. Bibi suggests leading the chicks, who cannot yet fly, to the water. She encourages the adult birds to fly ahead of them. The journey across the parched ground is exhausting. Too soon, one of the tiny chicks can go no further. Bibi protects the chicks in the shade of her wings while they wait for Toto to rest and gain strength.
As they wait, she tells them stories of what life is like on the lake. With that in mind, they are ready to move forward. The glassy lake surface is soon in sight, giving the chicks the push they need to keep going.
"Soon they were splashing through the cool water
to join their grateful parents."
Throughout the summer Bibi keeps watch. As the time nears to take flight and move on, Bibi is not sure she has the strength needed to go with them. She finds a place away from the flock. Toto is the first to notice Bibi is missing. Not willing to leave her behind, it is decided the flock will not leave without her. They will feed her and help her gain the strength needed for the upcoming flight.
What a lovely celebration of a life well lived and appreciated! Community is a glorious thing, and Jo Weaver ensures that young readers can appreciate the effort it takes to protect the oldest members, in keeping with the tender loving care always given to them.
Created in charcoal and then digitally colored, the stunning illustrations are lifelike and expressive. Backmatter provides information about flamingo migration and this story's origins.
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