The Most Amazing Bird

Written by Michael Arvaarluk Kusugak · Illustrated by Andrew Qappik OC

A girl finds unexpected beauty in winter's ugliest bird.

3.5/5 Goodreads · 107 ratings

40 pages

$18.95Save 7%

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Bookroo's summary

Aggataa, on a winter walk with her grandmother, encounters the only birds brave enough to stay—the ravens. Initially dismissing them as ugly, she forms a bond with one, discovering beauty in unexpected places. As spring brings more elegant birds, Aggataa's heart yearns for the return of the ravens, revealing a newfound appreciation for nature's wonders. What makes the 'Ugly Bird' so special?

From the publisher

A young girl discovers nature’s surprising beauty in this tale from a renowned Inuk storyteller. When Aggataa goes for a cold winter walk with her grandmother, she’s surprised by a sudden CRAH! All the birds have flown south for the winter except one kind–the tulugarguat, the ravens. They’re the ugliest birds that Aggaataa has ever seen. They look like they slept in their coats–coats that don’t even fit! However, as the winter slowly moves towards spring, Aggataa connects with one small raven in particular. As the seasons change in full, the ravens leave and are replaced by seagulls, cranes, geese, ducks, and swans–all of them far more elegant than the “Ugly Bird.” But where Aggataa once thought the ravens odd for visiting during the harshest part of the year, she now finds herself watching the horizon, waiting for the return of the most amazing bird. This touching story by award-winning author Michael Arvaarluk Kusugak reminds us of our lasting connection to nature, while art by celebrated illustrator Andrew Qappik, CM, illuminates the enduring magic of the changing seasons.

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