One Dark Bird

From award-winning author Liz Garton Scanlon and celebrated artist Frann Preston-Gannon comes a gorgeously illustrated, lyrical counting book that will have young readers’ imaginations taking flight.

One dark bird is perched up high, with a view of the town and a taste of the sky. Then she’s joined by two more, then three, then four. Before long, there are hundreds of starlings dancing across the sky—and avoiding a hunting hawk with one of the most spectacular tricks in the animal kingdom. Then, when night comes, the starlings begin to depart, until finally there is just one dark bird perched way up high, with a view of the town and a taste of the sky.

Liz Garton Scanlon is the author of numerous celebrated picture books, including One Dark Bird; In the Canyon; Happy Birthday, Bunny!; the Caldecott Honor recipient All the World; and Thank You, Garden. Liz is an adjunct professor of creative writing at Austin Community College, and her poetry has been published widely in literary journals. She lives with her family in Austin, Texas. Visit her at LizGartonScanlon.com.

Frann Preston-Gannon is an illustrator and designer. Her first picture book, The Journey Home, was shortlisted for both the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize and the Cambridgeshire Read it Again! Book Prize. She is also the illustrator of Busy-Eyed Day by Anne Marie Pace, One Dark Bird by Liz Garton Scanlon, and Home Is… by Hannah Barnaby, among others. She was the first UK recipient of the Sendak Fellowship and spent a month living with and learning from the great master of illustration, Maurice Sendak. She lives in London, England. Visit her online at Frann.co.uk.