Derek Desierto

Between dad jokes, colorful friends, and the desire to belong, this is a read to enjoy from beginning to end.

Oddbird is off to visit his friend, meets the family, and has a really good time. When he leaves and walks home alone, he realizes that he doesn't have a family and is alone. Just when he realizes how sad he is, something amazing happens.

This book is the second surrounding Oddbird stories and works perfectly fine as a stand alone. Oddbird is a small, gray bird, who has a good heart, is kind, and values his friends. His 'drab' coloring clashes with the colorful birds surrounding him, but he's adorable in his uniqueness.

It's easy to identify with him as he visits his friend's family, especially thanks to the awkward beginning moments. This will ring familiar with many readers, who go to their friends' houses for the first time. The addition of terrible Dad jokes slides in a fun quirkiness to add smiles. But then, even the sadder, loneliness Oddbird feels afterwards doesn't last long before the positive atmosphere kicks in again.

The text is age appropriate and makes a nice read-aloud, while the illustrations are bright and bold and enjoyable. It's a cute read with a lovely message. I received a DRC and rooted for Oddbird from the very first page.… (meer)

This book was alright. A bit of a confusing allegory. I don't appreciate books where the outcast has to convince and prove their value to the rest of the group. I feel strange saying this since my favorite book is Giraffe's Can't Dance. I would say the difference between that book and this one what the outcast character is being ostracized for. In Giraffe's Can't Dance, Gerald is being ostracized for his dancing skills, something that you can change or get better at. While Oddbird is being ostracized for the colour of his feathers, something they can absolutely not change. Oddbird dresses up in colourful regalia and then climbs up and dives into the water losing all the fake feathers he attached to his body. But the animals are so hot and find Oddbird's idea of swimming in the water to be agreeable to their present situation. They don't apologize to Oddbird for the way they treated him. They just forget about his dull colours because they are happy. Is the lesson that happy people will be less prejudiced? (I mean it makes sense, but that prejudice is always just below the surface. It doesn't go anywhere) Where is Oddbird's reconciliation? Is he just supposed to forget about how he was treated by the other birds because he is temporarily popular? What happens when the heat goes away and the other birds get out of the water and dry off? Will they go back to ostracizing Oddbird for his dull colours again. And finally, why is the outcast character depicted as dull?… (meer)

Most of the birds at the swimming pond are bright and colorful. But stranger comes to town who is nothing but gray. When the other birds chase the gray bird away, they wonder if they can disguise themselves. The disguise works, and the over birds love them. That is until gray bird and their fake plumage dive into the water and everything comes apart. However, the other birds see what fun Oddbird is having and join in. This book feels rushed. Especially the end. The colors and illustrations are awesome, but something is lacking in the story telling. It is still a good read, it just feels stilted.… (meer)