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Jill: Do you recall what sparked this story idea?Īntoinette: An image came first: a bird sitting alone in the woods.

Portis has done is give every child reader/listener a bird with whom to identify, and other bird “types” they undoubtedly know in human form.īut enough from me, because – lucky us! – Antoinette was kind enough to answer questions about her process and share artwork. Only crow holds out (but, of course, he finally gives it a shot, too). Inspired by the little brown bird, the cardinal and dove are soon making up their own new (and funny) songs. She pauses … and her neighbors are more than a bit taken aback when what bursts from her is an enthusiastic “Froodle sproodle!” Crow, the largest bird, “was not amused.” Large and threatening, he looms above the little brown bird to ask, “What did you say?” to which she replies, “Um … oodle?” Behind her, the cardinal says, “Uh-oh.” and the white dove (peacemaker) says, “She meant peep!” One day the little brown bird can’t take it anymore.

Season after season, four neighborhood birds sing the same monotonous songs. Delightful wordplay is the star here, and I’m not sure who would have more fun with it – the kiddos listening or the adult reading/performing it aloud. One of my favorite books of 2014 is Froodle, by Antoinette Portis.