Hopes for kids parrot book.

[Taprock]

I am a children's librarian and I just got back from a conference. I am super excited about possibly having a good kids story book with a CAG as the main character. I'm thinking of all the good bird owner, parrot education that could slip in with a story. Hopefully it really is a good book. The author's previous ones have been great.

Join a brilliant, but stubborn, parrot as he endures the banality of the pet store before being purchased by an equally insufferable young man. But while things between parrot and owner get off to a rocky start, the delights of having a pet (or human) bring them both around in the end.

 

[Allee]

It looks like a wonderful children's book! Please give us a report after you've read it.

I didn't know you were a children's librarian, that sounds like a very rewarding job.

 

[wrench13]

Heck I want that book

 

[Scott]

Looks to be a great children's book with a wonderful message. You have a terrific job with potential as role model. We all know how early education can shape a lifetime of values, so let me share two events had great impact.

A wise librarian helped boost my respect for printed matter. I defaced a school library book at the bratty age of 7 or 8. Started randomly, say on page 27, and wrote "go to page 3." On page 3 I penciled "go to page 62." Well, you get the sequence, and it ended with a snarky message on the final page. Shortly after return, the librarian somehow noticed the unwanted graffiti and confronted me with the evidence. Rather than inform my teacher and parents, she had me erase the unwanted scrawl, and gave me a quick tour of the library to share the glory of some well kept vintage books. (this was the mid 1960s) Hard to say if this kindled my lifelong love of books, but it did not hurt! A more punitive approach may have, by association, hindered the process!

During sixth grade, an environmentally aware teacher took us on a special field-trip. We were equipped with trash bags, gloves, and a "poker" stick to help clean up trash on the campus and perimeter! The amount of crap strewn about was astounding, but simply blended as "background." It became personal having to toss it into a bag, and to this day I WILL NOT litter!

 

[Taprock]

I didn't add the publisher's synopsis that the public doesn't get to see and first page which is what hooked me.

Brock the parrot doesn't mind his life at Wilbur's Pet Shop - he enjoys his conversations with his friend, Tik Tok. But then Brock is sold to a man named Todd and there's a serious communications barrier between man and bird. For one thing, Todd keeps calling Brock "Polly." What's up with that? And why does Polly want a cracker?

From the book:
Day 1
Wilbur's Pet Shop is closed today.
Good.
No rude people staring into my cage.
I just sit and chat with Tik Tok. We're the only parrots in the whole place and apparently the only critters who can talk.
The dogs just yap all day.
The fish don't even try to say anything.
I think the cats might be able to talk.
But they never do.

 

[Piasa]

Oh - cute!

I'd love to read that book. Doesn't hurt my name is Brock too, haha.

I had a Spanish learning coloring book when I was a little girl called Hablo Espanol con Perico. Perico was an Amazon parrot who teased the dog and talked to the kids and took them on adventures. Very cute. I loved it. I don't speak much Spanish now, but the little I know came from that book - it stuck

 

[Surfincr]

from what i was told "White fur flying" by Patricia McLachlan has an african grey as a main character. my mother is a reading specialist at a school where they read the book and had me come in with my CAG so the students could see one in real life.

 

[Taprock]

I've done my best to teach the kids about animals/environment. Over the past couple years my director has let me bring in all sorts of critters to visit. Hedgehog, bearded dragon, dogs, incubated chicks, raised monarchs,and reading to chickens. This summer I have planned kids programs for birds, reptiles, amphibians, and wolves (only the pelt visits for that one!). I'm thinking we may have to do a parrot one in the future.

One of my favorite questions from a little girl was "do chickens really poop?" She also insisted chicken nuggets did NOT come from chickens.