BARNABY: A Flash of Color and Memory

 

As soon as I saw the cover of BARNABY, written by Andrea Curtis and illustrated by Kass Reich, I raced to reserve it at the library. That sweet parakeet on the cover called out to me from my own childhood. When the book finally perched in my hands, I was not disappointed.  

My lifelong love of birds, both wild and pet, is too long a story to share here. But I will reveal that my first pet, the one that was exclusively mine (not shared by the entire family) was Blue Jingles, a parakeet who closely resembled Barnaby. Sadly, BJ's life was short. Soon after came Cupid, who shared my life for several years. 

When a parakeet  (or other pet bird) ends up in the vastness of the world, results are rarely as happy as they are in this story. Odds are slim that a safe return to home will ever come to pass. It does happen, though, and it did for my Cupid. (See below) In this picture book, Barnaby is the avatar for a very human story of jealousy, anger, isolation, loneliness, and growth. There is a reason some truism are true, as in: absence makes the heart grow fonder. 

Yes, it does.

For other bird fans in a mood for an extended story of such inadvertent travels through the wide world, I highly recommend to you the middle grade novel by Jane Kelley, THE DESPERATE ADVENTURES OF ZENO AND ALYA. In fact, if you are simply a fan of a wonderful middle grade novel, give it a read. 

And, as promised, here's a poem I wrote that reveals my long ago Cupid's adventure into the wide world beyond our front door:

                                    HERO

                                    by Sandy Brehl

 

                                    Have you ever had a hero?

                                    They are daring, bold, and fine.

                                    Some are wrapped in capes and emblems -

                                    They're not half as grand as mine!

 

                                    You would not quite call him handsome-

                                    Tall and wrinkled, but so kind.

                                    Just last month he had turned sixty.

                                    Still,  no braver man you'll find.

 

                                    When he scaled the giant elm tree

                                    Right outside my kitchen door

                                    I just chewed my nails and worried

                                    While I prayed and paced the floor.

 

                                    Could he really reach the summit?

                                    Would my parakeet be hurt?

                                    Uncle Bill came down a hero -

                                    Cupid safe inside his shirt.