That Bird Has Arms (Kate Temple & Jol Temple, illus Ronojoy Ghosh & Niharika Hukku, Little Hare)

That Bird Has Arms comes from the creative team behind the successful Bin Chicken books and brings the same brightly coloured joy and hilarious avian humour. Writers Kate and Jol Temple and illustrators Ronojoy Ghosh and Niharika Hukku have combined their talents to create a quirky and loveable story about a bird named Roy who is just like any other bird, except for the fact that he has human arms. Despite their usefulness, Roy is the subject of relentless teasing from the other birds. It’s a pity because those arms can come in handy in unexpected ways. Eventually, during the grand final of That Bird’s Got Talent, Roy proves the benefits of his weird arms once and for all, saving the day and earning the respect of his former naysayers. That Bird Has Arms has plenty of contemporary charm, with screenshots of mean tweets and a slew of pop culture references that will give adults a giggle as much as younger readers. The distinct illustration style pairs Ghosh’s painterly work with Hukku’s realistic fine art background, giving this unique story an equally unique look. This is a picture book about difference and identity, taking pride in yourself and learning that what sets you apart might be the best thing about you.

Books+Publishing reviewer: Karys McEwen is a librarian, middle-grade author, and the vice president of CBCA VIC Branch Books+Publishing is Australia’s number-one source of pre-publication book reviews.

Category: Reviews