Nesting

When a male robin sings his song in early spring, it wards off other males but attracts a female companion. Together, the new couple builds a nest, and the female robin lays four eggs. When the eggs hatch, the new parents work tirelessly to feed and protect their new babies. They make many trips to bring food like caterpillars and worms to their chicks. They also bravely face a snake that sees their nest and climbs the tree to eat their young robins. By late summer, the new robins leave the nest. They forage for food and prepare to endure the winter, with the promise that in spring the whole cycle will repeat. Cole’s illustrations are magnificent. They are mostly black and white pen sketches, though the sky is occasionally shaded blue with acrylic paints. The four robin eggs are the exception—they are bold, robin-blue ovals, highlighted by the lack of color everywhere else. In contrast to the remarkable illustrations, the story narrative is boring. While elements of tension are present—the snake attack and a storm—the narrative is objective and dry. The story would have been much better—potentially even a classic in the style of Allsburg’s Jumanji—with more personality in the characters or tension in the drama. Even without, it’s a unique and beautiful addition to children’s literature.