Once, a Bird

Written by Rina Singh

Illustrated by Nathalie Dion

Orca Book Publishers

978-1-4598-3143-8

32 pp.

Ages 3-6

September 2023 

 

I know many people are trying to forget a time of lockdowns and restricted movements during the early years of the pandemic. But Rina Singh and Nathalie Dion's story reminds us of the gifts of nature and community that were revealed during those tenuous times. And though their story takes us out of those times, it never lets us forget what discoveries were made when tensions were high, isolation was the norm, and health was insecure.

From Once, a Bird, written by Rina Singh, illustrated by Nathalie Dion

Without words, Rina Singh tells a story of the arrival of a robin to a land of complexity and quiet. There may be snow on the ground but as the bird travels over parks, highways, and agricultural fields, there is no one to be seen. It is people-less and still. It could be a dystopian landscape, but Nathalie Dion gives us hope and light in the greenness of the fields, the blues of the skies and the unscathed infrastructure.

From Once, a Bird, written by Rina Singh, illustrated by Nathalie Dion

The bird finds its way to a budding tree outside a walk-up apartment building where an elderly woman spots it. She alone is looking out her windows as her neighbours keep their blinds and curtains closed. But then others take in the sight of the robin, each in their own way. Whether it be a grandson and grandfather watching it with binoculars, or a young person taking photos with her phone, or two children chatting between windows. Even a new puppy dog is held up to witness the bird.

 
As life goes on for the bird, building its nest, laying its eggs, and feeding its young, the neighbourhood begins to open up: a door, a window, a walk with the dog. And, with time, the neighbourhood returns to normal as the bird and its young fly off, having taken the people through the tough times.

From Once, a Bird, written by Rina Singh, illustrated by Nathalie Dion

Although the audience for Once, a Bird is listed as 3-5 years of age, the depth of the storytelling is far greater, and could be for all ages. Rina Singh has given a nuanced story of isolation and connection with nature that may have been born of a pandemic, and all who have been living with solitude and/or withdrawal, whether because of distance, mental health, or even personality, will also understand. She offers hope that separation does not mean desolation, and that opening oneself to the natural world can help sustain us.

I've reviewed a number of picture books illustrated by Montreal's Nathalie Dion (e.g., The Big Bad Wolf in My House, I Found Hope in a Cherry Tree, The Dog's Gardener) and her watercolour and gouache art lends itself well to contemplative stories such as Once, a Bird. There is an intangible, almost divine, sense of beauty that comes from both introspection and deep relationships depicted in her illustrations. Her art is sensitive to the ephemeral nature of challenges, keeping her colours subdued but calm, and introducing brighter colours, initially only on the robin, as the people emerge, and the neighbourhood returns to life.

 

For hope through difficult times, take note of how once a bird brought a community together, and how Rina Singh and Nathalie Dion were able to do the same to tell its and our story.

 

• • • • • • • 

A French-language edition is also available as Il était une fois un oiseau.

 

 

111 Trees: How One Village Celebrates the Birth of Every Girl (Citizen Kid)

Written by Rina Singh

Illustrated by Marianne Ferrer

Kids Can Press

978-1-5253-0120-9

36 pp.

Ages 5-8

October 2020

 

In a poignant preface, author Rina Singh introduces an Indian village's ancient custom of celebrating the birth of boys with boisterous noise and sweets, and the birth of girls with silence. 111 Trees is the story of how that tradition was changed.

From 111 Trees: How One Village Celebrates the Birth of Every Girl by Rina Singh, illus. by Marianne Ferrer

As a child growing up in his Indian village, Sundar loved his mother and relished his alone-time with her each day on the long walk to fetch water from the well. In a small mud house with a family of eleven and insufficient food, his mother weeps at night. When his mother dies from a poisonous snake bite, Sundar shares hugs with the trees to remember his mother.

When Sundar grows up and has daughters and a son of his own, he "guides them to embrace all forms of life." So, working in the local marble industry, Sundar tries to encourage the factory owners to replace trees on land devastated by the mining and processing of the marble. When they refuse, he leaves his job.

From 111 Trees: How One Village Celebrates the Birth of Every Girl by Rina Singh, illus. by Marianne Ferrer

But Sundar is determined to make a difference in his community and wins an election to be sarpanch, the village head. A year after, his eldest daughter dies and in his grief he plants some saplings, hopeful that they will grow "into magnificent trees that will live for hundreds of years. And with them will live the memory of his daughter." With that as catalyst, Sundar declares that every girl born into their village would be celebrated with the planting of 111 trees. Of course, the villagers think he is crazy and reject his idea. But Sundar is determined.

With time, he teaches them about treating the boys and girls equally, about the environmental impacts of the marble industry on their land, and how they might make a better world, with water, electricity, education and equality.

From 111 Trees: How One Village Celebrates the Birth of Every Girl by Rina Singh, illus. by Marianne Ferrer

111 Trees is a lovely story about a community that is able to benefit itself by helping others and the environment. With compassion and through education, and by placing trust in Sundar, girls are celebrated with mango, papaya, neem, sheesham and amia trees, which they honour annually with sacred threads to renew their bonds, and now go to school along with the boys. Moreover, there is enough water for everyone and no one goes hungry. Rina Singh not only shares the extraordinary transformation of the village of Piplantri in her expressive text but enlightens young readers in her notes about Sundar's story, about gender inequality and about how the forest was nourished and grew.

From 111 Trees: How One Village Celebrates the Birth of Every Girl by Rina Singh, illus. by Marianne Ferrer

But with Marianne Ferrer's watercolour, gouache and graphite illustrations, readers are taken to a community hurting with poverty, hunger and environmental devastation and able to witness its glorious transformation to one of life and greenery and water in which girls and women share importance for the first time.

 

🌏 🌏 🌏 🌏 🌏 

 

For more social justice books, check out all the Citizen Kid books.

Citizen Kid series