The Mountain That Loved a Bird

by Alice McLerran

Book Overview

Original fable about a bird that promises a mountain that she and her descendents will return to the area year after year. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0590468480
• ISBN13: 9780590468480
• Release Date: April 1993
• Publisher: Scholastic Inc
• Length: 18 Pages
• Weight: 0.45 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Beautiful

This is one of the most beautiful books that I have ever read. It is love. Love that is indeed essential. Like water for chocolate type of love. Whenever I read this book it amazes me how as to how real the author personified the characters. This story not only clarifies the necessity to of the need for love but it brings it forth with such astounding boldness. The mountain in its isolation literally almost gives up in the midst of its quest for companionship.This book is not only a book for children -- it is can also be a literary piece for adults. In the quest for the mountain's security; the bird leaves behind generation upon generation of offspring to provide the mountain with a sense of love and security for many, many, many years to come.Beautiful -- is a mere word that describes an element of something that is precious, astounding, and good. I cannot find the perfect word for this book. It seems to me that beautiful is hardly enough.

Beautiful story, great storytelling

This is a beautiful story about a bird that visits a mountain once a year. Both can talk, and they visit with each other. The mountain is lonely. The bird explains she will die someday, that birds don't live long, but promises she will have her daughter visit when she is gone. She explains that she cannot live there as this mountain is barren, so she can visit only once per year. The mountain is lonely when she passes on and cries (a brook begins). The daughter does visit and she drops one seed per year. In the end the mountain is a thriving ecosystem where birds and animals can live year round, nourished by the water that the mountain created. The book has longer prose than the usual picture books for this age range (more like the picture books published in the 1950s and 1960s). The illustrations are by Eric Carle, interesting and appealing collage format that he is famous for.This is a tender and touching tale! It is not just a plain picture book prose, it truly is "storytelling".

Timeless Story for Both Young and Old

I randomly picked and read this book waiting for my wife to finish in her kindergarten class. What joy it brought to me, as it will to you and your children. "The Mountain That Loved a Bird" revels in classic storytelling of old: a building promise of a miraculous ending. The timeless themes of emotions, promises made and kept, and "happily-ever-after" resound throughout the story and beautiful artwork. In these days of rapid-fire animation and video game addiction, "The Mountain That Loved a Bird" brings us to a gentler and far more satisfying place. It will teach your children about the power of friendship and hope, a lesson off-times lost in this world of Pokemon and violence. This book is one that should hold a revered and oft-used place beside your child's bed. But don't be surprised if you find "The Mountain That Loved a Bird" making its way into your bedroom or favorite reading nook.

Agreat metaphor of love and joy for adults and children.

Enchanting story of letting life into a barren place. Although told at a child's level the lesson for adults is far deeper. We've all felt such lonliness and remained crusted over in our isolation. Yet somehow the smallest feeling or sensation can be a great new beginning, one in which love and joy can flourish.

A great book to teach the hidden growth of hope!

I am a Chaplain at The Children's Hospital in Denver. This is an excellent book to share with families in a crisis. It illustrates the gift of hope in our deepest moments. A gift of life and hope being born inspite of our awareness. The mountain could only feel it's sadness, yet amidst the sadness the gift of life was being born all around him. A very inspiring book!