Book Descriptions
for A Feather by Cao Wenxuan and Roger Mello
From The United States Board on Books for Young People (USBBY)
Does a feather ever wonder where it comes from? Follow along with this lost feather on a journey to find to whom she belongs. Both philosophical and fun, readers will be swept away in the distinctive voices and authentic illustration of each bird Feather asks. Feather will charm readers with her quiet determination as she shows us that answers are often found in places we don't expect. Strong, colorful double-page spreads and the repeated refrain of “Am I yours?”, offer plenty of opportunities for audience engagement in this understated callback to the timeless “Are You My Mother?” tale.
Author and illustrator are both Hans Christian Andersen award winners (2016, author; 2014, illustrator).
China. Originally published in Chinese as Yu mao by China Children's Press in 2013. English translation by Chloe Garcia Roberts published in the United States by Elsewhere Editions/ Archipelago Books.
© USBBY, 2022. Used with permission.
From the Publisher
A philosophical picture book from one of China's most celebrated children's authors and 2016 Hans Christian Andersen Award-winner Cao Wenxuan.
A feather is blown across the sky, meeting various birds along the way, and asking each one, "Do I belong to you?".
Cao Wenxuan tells the story of a single feather who is swept away on a journey of discovery and belonging. Encountering a variety of birds, from a kingfisher to a magpie, Feather is hopeful of meeting the bird she belongs to. Again and again, she is dismissed or ignored. Only when she sees that there is also beauty in being close to the earth does fate offer a reunion... Feather is sure to charm young children with a plot at once compelling, meditative, and quietly moving. Roger Mello’s stunningly beautiful, dynamic illustrations will delight readers of all ages.
A feather is blown across the sky, meeting various birds along the way, and asking each one, "Do I belong to you?".
Cao Wenxuan tells the story of a single feather who is swept away on a journey of discovery and belonging. Encountering a variety of birds, from a kingfisher to a magpie, Feather is hopeful of meeting the bird she belongs to. Again and again, she is dismissed or ignored. Only when she sees that there is also beauty in being close to the earth does fate offer a reunion... Feather is sure to charm young children with a plot at once compelling, meditative, and quietly moving. Roger Mello’s stunningly beautiful, dynamic illustrations will delight readers of all ages.
Publisher description retrieved from Google Books.