A modern re-telling of the story of Saint Kevin of Glendalough, who was so kind and patient that a blackbird nested and raised her young in the palm of his outstretched hand. In Ms. Napoli's and Mr. LaMarche's lovely version, Albert, a shy shut-in who doesn't like loud noises - like garbage trucks or angry arguments - stretches his hand out of his window daily to check the weather. One day, a pair of cardinals drop twigs in his hand, build a nest, lay eggs, and raise their young. Albert must now listen to the loud noises. When the birds fledge, Albert's life changes dramatically. Pitch-perfect prose and lush watercolors fill the reader with joy and hope. Albert reminds me that both the good noises and the bad noises are "part of the big, wonderful world." And that sometimes the bad noises aren't always as bad as you might think. ( )

Albert stays in his apartment and listens to the sounds of the neighborhood. Some he likes. Some he does not. He sticks his hand out of the barred window to feel if the weather is just right to go out for a walk. Too hot, too breezy, too cold, too anything is always a reason for Albert to stay inside. One day, Albert sticks his hand out of the window and before he knows it, two red birds have put twigs in his hand. Twig after twig, trip after trip, and eventually Albert's hand becomes their place for nesting. They lay their eggs right in Albert's hand. Now, Albert is in a bit of a dilemma: he can't pull his hand back because the eggs will surely fall to the ground. So, Albert has to sleep standing up...at least until the eggs hatch. The father cardinal is so grateful and he seems to understand that Albert has to eat too! So he feeds Albert seeds, and berries, and....beetles. Albert is grateful for those too! Eventually, the brood hatches and flies away, with one little chick needing some extra encouragement from Albert. Albert finally gets a chance to pull his hand inside. Without giving it a second thought, he feels that it is a lovely day to go for a walk...and to go for a "fly". ( )

FANTASY: (age range: secondary)

This book was great. I really liked the illustrations, they had great detail. This book would be great for students to look at the pictures and try to figure out what is going on before they read the book. Where do you think Albert is or what time period is he in. The book speaks volumes through pictures. Then I would read the book and have the class compare and contrast what happened to what they thought about the books.

Summary: Albert checks the weather each day to see if it is just perfect so he can go for a walk. Each day he finds an excuse...it's too cold, too hot, too wet, etc. One day he sticks his hand out the window and a cardinal starts making a nest on his hand. Albert is stuck holding the nest until eventually all the eggs hatch and the birds fly away. Albert learns that there is both good and bad in the world and he cannot change that fact. So he now decides to live his life to the fullest.
Critique: I like the lesson that is taught. If you stay inside because the world seems too scary, then you will miss out on how wonderful life can be.
Craft Element: To help students comprehend the text question them throughout the story. Why is Albert concerned with noise? Why does he stay inside all the time? Why does he write postcards and never mail them? What is happening to change Albert? Why does Albert now like noises around him? Why doesn't the fourth baby bird want to leave? How did Albert survive for 12 days? Did he eat? Who feed him? What did he eat?