Boundless Sky

Age range 5 to 9

This is the story of a bird that fits in your hand flying halfway around the world looking for a place to nest. This is the story of a young girl from northern Africa fleeing halfway around the world looking for a place of peace. This is the story of Bird. This is the story of Leila. This is the story of a chance encounter and a long journey home.

Winner of North Somerset Teachers Book Awards shortlist 2020. Winner of Kate Greenaway Medal Nomination 2021.

“PreS-Gr 2-Every year Bird flies from her winter home in England to her summer home in Africa. Bird's long journey over oceans, mountains, deserts, and grasslands is buoyed by the children she passes each year along the way. But on Bird's journey back to England, one child is missing: Leila, a girl depicted with brown skin and a turquoise headscarf. Her once bustling desert village is abandoned. As Bird flies across the stormy ocean, so too does a small, shadowy boat. Finally, Bird lands back in the U.K., and Leila greets Bird from her new garden. Leila's neighbor smiles, "Hello Bird. Hello Leila. Welcome everyone!" Parallels are drawn between Bird and Leila's journeys, although educators may have to step in to differentiate between natural bird migration and human refugees. Delicate pencil lines combined with digital techniques and a muted green and blue color palette depict people and Bird against a panoramic canvas of vast skies, stormy seas, fluttering butterflies, and mountain towns. Adreani's playful use of angles creates unusual, eye-catching perspectives. Bird's journey is plotted on a map, however the map lacks helpful symbols or textual supports, such as country names or a legend. VERDICT For libraries looking to expand their collection of picture books that include refugee characters. --School Library Journal”

“A beautiful exploration of friendship, the parallel migrations of Bird and Leila, and the welcome they receive in their new home. Perfect for developing empathy and compassion” -Library Girl and Book Boy

“Beneath the surface, one can find many opportunities for a deep conversation about belonging, welcoming, and freedom from oppression and danger” -Youth Book Review Services

“A delicate and touching little tale that packs its powerful message inside a velvet glove.” -The Letterpress Project

Amanda Addison's work is inspired by the natural world, travel and textiles. She has been long-listed for the Commonword and Virginia Prize and holds an MA in Writing the Visual.Manuela Adreani is a children's book illustrator and animator living in Turin, Italy. Her accolades include winning the illustration contest for the 130th anniversary of the creation of Pinocchio.

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