This review was written by teacher Elizabeth Cook.
Illustrated by Elina Ellis
Kids Can Press
978-1-5253-0338-8
36 pp.
Ages 4-7
June 2022
A Chickadee Criminal Mastermind? This book captured my interest right away. The story is narrated by the chickadee himself and it starts with him telling the
reader how the forest has a criminal living there. It is him, calling
himself "a real rapscallion and all-around bad seed.” He then explains to the other animals, and the readers, how he started his life of crime in the forest.
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From Chickadee Criminal Mastermind by Monica Silvie, illus. by Elina Ellis
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His story starts when he was a pink, featherless baby still in the nest learning all that he could from his parents. After his long childhood of sixteen days, he flew off to start his own adult life in the forest. He quickly discovered that finding food was of the utmost importance and that it got harder and harder as winter encroached on the forest. As such, he had to start stealing from the mother lode of all treasures…a box full of bird seed hanging from the tree branches. Using a map reminiscent of Kevin's battle plan from the movie “Home Alone,” the chickadee steals his seed each day. This may have made him a well-fed “King of Thieves” in the forest…but it also made him lonely.
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| From Chickadee Criminal Mastermind by Monica Silvie, illus. by Elina Ellis |
One day, when Chickadee hears young children gleefully watching him, he remembers one of his parents' lessons about something called a bird feeder. They'd told him that a bird feeder was a safe
place for birds. Realizing this, Chickadee wonders if he perhaps isn't the "
bad seed" he'd always seen himself as and that perhaps his forest peers might now become his friends. In fact, it looks like he just might make one new friend when another chickadee appears.
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| From Chickadee Criminal Mastermind by Monica Silvie, illus. by Elina Ellis |
This picture book by BC's
Monica Silvie is adorable. From the outset, I was engaged with the story of this criminal mastermind bird.
Monica Silvie’s
writing helps the reader see the humour in a story of our chickadee
while still teaching readers quite a bit about these common birds. I
found myself cheering for the little chickadee on his
adventures as a “King of Thieves” and also in his quest to make
friends. The story is appended with additional information about
chickadees, including sources for further research. The artwork by Ukrainian-born UK-resident
Elina Ellis is quite precious as she brings expressions to our dear chickadee that really help the reader feel connected to him.
This
story will be a delight to share in classrooms and with children in
your home. As a teacher, I am already thinking of some great activities including watching for
chickadees in the forest behind my school, making bird feeders
with the students, and even some creative writing from Chickadee’s
perspective. This book will also tie in nicely with many science curricula. You definitely want this delightful book
in your school library.
~
Elizabeth Cook is a teacher in the Halton District School
Board. She is an avid reader and fan of Canadian literature.
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