Little Tern: A Story of Insight

Publisher and industry reviews

UK Kirkus review

In this children's picture book, a tern suddenly finds himself mysteriously unable to fly. His power, the essence of what it means to him to be a bird, is in his wings and ability to fly, but he gains a new perspective on the world as he sets off on a quest to discover why this has happened. He acknowledges that his frail legs and feet aren't designed for navigating the land, but through his weakness he learns more, because losing his most natural function means that he must struggle to survive. Along his journey, he makes new friends and begins to query many things which he had previously taken for granted. He seeks solace in the stars, for example, because their familiarity becomes a comfort. Yet when faced with a shooting star, he wonders why it is so fickle, disturbing the natural order. In response to the tern's plethora of questions, the star points out that a bird cannot understand what it means to be a star, any more than a star can a bird. The tern has entered a totally different world and knows he must adapt to this strange new home, but soon concludes that it is not full of despair. The book is an optimistic meditation on seeking hope through undergoing hindrance and frustration. The concise and poetic prose is accompanied by gentle watercolour pictures which perfectly reflect the mood of the tale. (Kirkus UK)