Jill Esbaum, you had me at STINKBIRD and then Bob Shea had me with that dancing, purple chick on the cover. And then you all had me forever after reading Stinkbird Has a Superpower.
This is a hilarious book about how a papa bird tells his little chick (and the reader) about how fabulous they are. Mostly because hey, they are awesome, but also because they are a species that has a lot of “only thems.” And the superpower of the title? Well, it is pretty fantastic! Fun, colorful, and clever cartoony illustrations bring everything together.
Sure, you learn tht they burp and are stinky because of their food, and you learn the chicks can swim, and the fun reason why the adults build nests over the river (see the swimming part) and so much more, but what I really loved about this book was it was clever. Oh, sure we have seen the animal telling their story before, and we have seen the excitable
young child, but because of the subject and the way Esbaum presents the text, you are getting something new. And of course, Shea has their signature style, so that helps take something that could be totally dull factual book and make it into something lighthearted.
Kids of all ages can have this read to them or be the reader with help (as the ones who probably could read solo might be turned off by the format, which looks like a picture book format, yet not sure as I read via an online reader copy). In mid-May 2023 I plan on getting a few copies to give as gifts!
