The Christmas Bird, a middle grade story by Robbie Cheadle, tells the story of a South African family in financial difficulty who are willing to make sacrifices for one another’s happiness, as well for the care of a baby bird they rescue on Christmas Day. The story is told from the point of view of Stella, the eldest of four girls.
As an adult, I enjoyed the story because it was not the usual Christmas fare. In fact, The Christmas Bird, is not, strictly speaking, a Christmas story, as it takes place between Christmas and April. Instead, it begins with the ideals of selflessness and compassion associated with Christmas and does not abandon these ideals once the presents have been opened and the celebratory meal eaten.
The triggering event for the story happens on Christmas Day, when the family’s two undernourished dogs find a hoopoe’s nest and kill all but one chick. The girls’ mother calls the dogs off, and Stella rescues the chick. What was particularly striking to me in this scene was that the mother doesn’t subsequently punish the dogs for following their canine instincts. Similarly, when the rescued bird proves to have a particularly unpleasant bodily function, the mother takes it in stride and explains to the girls that it is a natural defense mechanism.
The story is narrated with vivid, specific details so that children can easily visualize the events as they unfold, including how to care for an orphaned or abandoned baby bird. I was impressed by the girls’ researching each stage of the chick’s development to ensure they were caring for it appropriately, with the end goal that the bird could survive in the wild.
As the hoopoe develops, the girls grow more attached to it, while the bird grows less dependent on them. The story then reaches a natural and satisfying conclusion. I think middle grade readers will enjoy the story and derive valuable lessons from it. I also think the story is appropriate for adults to read to younger children. If my experience is any indication, adults will appreciate the story as well!
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