That’s Another Story“The story is told in a way that helps younger children connect to the feelings of sadness and fear of the refugee experience.
The illustrations in this book are beautiful, reminding me of many amazing sunsets and cloud-filled skies I have experienced.”
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ASLC Litpicks“Canadian Suzanne Del Rizzo has created a gorgeously layered and textured vision of a refugee camp in Syria based on a true story….Politics and worldviews are conspicuously absent, as Del Rizzo’s incredibly detailed paint, Plasticine and polymer clay illustrations make Sami and the camp come to life. The camp is shown as a clean and safe place, with none of the darker elements of refugee life. This allows the focus to remain on the consequences of war for one young boy and his triumph over adversity, and brings the story to a level that young children in this country will be able to access and empathize with. A must for every school library.”
—Lissa Davies
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“This refugee experience, written from the unique perspective of a small boy, is both fascinating and heart-breaking. While the story is lovely, the real successes are the polymer clay illustrations, done by the author. They are brightly colored, have wonderful detail and give the story some nice texture. This book is relevant and lovely, and is an excellent book to teach children about being a refugee.”
Reviewed by Lindsay Davis
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“There is a fine line to walk when writing for children about the horror and deprivation of war, especially when that story is about a child of the same age. The author needs to inspire empathy and understanding without causing anxiety for the young readers. In My Beautiful Birds, Del Rizzo has done a masterful job of straddling that line and in doing so has not only given a beautiful story, but also a teachable moment for kids ages 4-10….
I am not even going to be shy about admitting that I had no idea what this book was about when I picked it up. I simply judged this book as ‘need to read’ by the positively stunning artwork on the cover, art that has been perfectly described as dimensional illustrations. I am fond of using a euphemism for ‘leaping off the page’ when it comes to talking about art in children’s books, but that is such pale terminology for what this book offers. If there were no text to tell the reader what is happening in the story, the reader would still be pulled in to Sammi’s world; Birds fly, the smell of smoke fills the air, you can feel the grit of the sand and the hear the rasping of canvas tents. Sammi’s fears and hopes have been rendered in infinite detail with this beautifully textured sculpted art.
The war in Syria and other parts of the world are in the news almost nightly. In addition to being a wonderful story, this book can also be a tool to explain to little ones about the war and the people it affects. It is told in a way that is completely accessible to kids and adults alike….
I am looking forward to Del Rizzo’s latest release, in the fall, A World of Kindness.”
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Pajama Press is proud to announce that My Beautiful Birds by award-winning author-illustrator Suzanne Del Rizzo is a 2017 Quill & Quire Books of the Year selection.
Quill & Quire “is the magazine of the Canadian book trade….The magazine reviews around 400 new titles each year, offering the most comprehensive look at Canadian-authored books in the country.” Learn more here.
Pajama Press extends our congratulations to Suzanne Del Rizzo, and our sincerest thanks go to Quill & Quire for their commitment to championing and promoting Canadian publishing.
Other notable acclaim for My Beautiful Birds includes winning the 2017 Malka Penn Award for Human Rights in Children’s Literature, honor book selection for the 2017 Middle Eat Book Award, a New York Times Notable Books selection, a 2017 OneBook for Kids, One San Diego selection, a Junior Library Guild selection, and nomination for the 2017 Cybils Award for Fiction. My Beautiful Birds is also a NECBA Windows & Mirrors Fall 2017 selection, and a selection among Betsy Bird’s “2017 Books I’m Really Looking Forward To”.
Pajama Press is excited to announce that My Beautiful Birds by author-illustrator Suzanne Del Rizzo is the winner of the 2017 Malka Penn Award for Human Rights in Children’s Literature.
The Malka Penn Award “is given annually to the author of an outstanding children’s book addressing human rights issues or themes, such as discrimination, equity, poverty, justice, war, peace, slavery or freedom.”
Pajama Press extends our congratulations to Suzanne Del Rizzo. Our sincerest thanks go to the Thomas J. Dodd Research Center for their commitment to human rights education and their support of children’s literature.
Other notable acclaim for My Beautiful Birds includes a New York Times Book Review, a 2017 OneBook for Kids, One San Diego selection, a Junior Library Guild Selection, and nomination for the 2017 Cybils Award for Fiction. My Beautiful Birds is also a NECBA Windows & Mirrors Fall 2017 selection, and a selection among Betsy Bird’s “2017 Books I’m Really Looking Forward To”.
“…When you live in a peaceful place where there is no war or conflict, it is hard to imagine what it is like to lose everything. It is hard to imagine what it is like to be a refugee. Unfortunately, today more people have been displaced by conflict and natural disasters than ever before.
One of the places where these displacements are taking place is Syria, a country that has been ripped apart by war. In this story we meet a Syrian child whose whole life is turned upside down when his hometown is destroyed. We watch as he struggles to adjust to his new existence in a refugee camp, and as he longs for what he used to have.
Beautifully written, and illustrated using polymer clay and acrylic, this picture book serves as a tribute to all those families who have had to venture out into the unknown when their homes have been taken from them.
—Marya Jansen-Gruber
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“It’s unusual to find stories about the Syrian civil war geared to picture book readers; but young audiences with adult assistance will find this an excellent introduction of the experience of refugees through the eyes of a young boy who dreams for something better.”
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“My Beautiful Birds is a beautifully written and gorgeously illustrated book about a young boy coping with the loss of pets and home and adapting to life in a refugee camp….Del Rizzo’s illustrations are the perfect compliments to the story. While they are detailed enough to convey emotion well, because they appear as theatrical vignettes, they provide some distance for the reader from a story which tackles a difficult subject.”
—Patricia Nozell
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“…Del Rizzo’s exquisite polymer clay illustrations add depth and a life-like dimension to Sami’s story….I appreciated that the author focused on the refugee crisis that is affecting the most innocent and vulnerable, children. She doesn’t address political themes in the book, but focuses on the humanity of the situation for children displaced from their homes in Syria….My Beautiful Birds is an excellent addition to any school library. It is age-appropriate and an introductory story about children who are displaced because of war or natural disasters.”
—Patricia Tilton
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