Given that the narrator and his family have brown skin, this book serves as a celebration of his skin color, with rhyming text going through his day listing so many good things that are brown. But that message is subtle and is not directly stated. On another level, it could simply be read as color study, leading to conversations of other colors and where we see them in daily life.

Rhyming text imagines the dialogue between mother bird and the last chick, reluctant to leave the next. The illustrations are soft and have a certain vintage look to them. They capture a variety of perspectives as the young bird ponders the vastness of the sky and the distance to the ground in comparison to the coziness of the nest. It takes a bit of coaxing and convincing and bribing on the part of mother bird, while baby bird stalls and voices his fears, but in the end he does indeed say goodbye to the nest and hello to the sky as he’s on his way to everywhere. The story offers young readers an analogy to which they can relate whatever fears they’ve faced or overcome, and the tone of encouragement is easily transferable to human growth.

On the surface it’s the story of a family purchasing and preparing a larger dining table in preparation of having their grandfather move in and enlarge the family, while the youngest member of the family has a hard time giving up the comfort of the familiar table. Neighbors and extended family help get things ready, and are invited to join in the welcome dinner, until quite a party is built around the new table, full of love all around. What makes it so relatable for students is the way the sentiments of uncertainty in the face of change can be extended to so many aspects of life that bring change, and often leave young ones reluctant to let go of the familiar in order to embrace the new.

The illustrations are cute and sweet and will draw young readers in. The rhyming text reads smoothly and tells the story of a young lion too full of various anxieties to run and play with the big lions who are rougher and tougher. Instead he hangs out with friend and watch the big lions in hopes that someday they’ll grow up and be ready to join in. When little Bird hops to the top of a tree, and calls out in fear because she’s too afraid to jump since she doesn’t know how to fly, the big lions try to help, but they’re too big to climb the tree. In putting concern for his friend ahead of his own fears, Little Lion finds his brave and climbs up to rescue his friend. In finding his brave, he inspires little bird to be brave too, finally stretching her wings to fly. I like the message of finding one’s brave by putting the needs of others first, and I think it’s delivered effectively without being preachy. The cute pictures simply need to be shared with readers young enough not to know much about actual lions, like that manes are only on adult male lions, and that adult male lions don’t hang out together, but are either solitary or surrounded by a pride of females and young (maneless) cubs.

We talk about books being both mirrors to reflect our own experiences, as well as windows to show us a world beyond our own experiences. This book has the potential to serve as both for many children. On the one hand, it offers a glimpse of Armenian language and traditions to students who may not be familiar with this culture (or a mirror to those who come from this background). As a story about a young girl celebrating family run-washing day as her favorite day of the year, it simultaneously gives readers the opportunity to reflect on their own family chores that can be turned into fun. I really like when a book serves as both window and mirror, because it helps young readers find connection with those that may at first seem different and unfamiliar. The world needs us all to be able to find more connection.