The Subway Sparrow

An English-speaking girl, a Spanish-speaking man, and a Polish-speaking woman might not be able to converse, but when a sparrow trapped in their subway car needs help, their common concern bridges the language barriers between them.

Leyla Torres is the author and illustrator of many books for children, including Saturday Sancocho. She lives in Arlington, Vermont.

"Colorful watercolor paintings illustrate this multicultural story. When a sparrow flies into a subway car, a young Oriental girl tries to rescue it. She enlists the aid of a teenage boy, a Spanish-speaking woman, and a Polish-speaking man. The illustrations are filled with wonderful details. . .The brief text, which includes phrases in Spanish and Polish, advances the plot while allowing the illustrations to convey the action. . .A special book." --School Library Journal

"A charming multicultural vignette, ingeniously constructed, nicely paced, and altogether disarming." -- Kirkus Reviews