Book Description
for The Circles in the Sky by Karl James Mountford
From Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC)
Curious about the new and unusual song sung by the chorus of birds that wakes Fox each morning, he follows the birds through the forest. In a quiet meadow, Fox discovers that one of the birds is on the ground, still and unmoving. Unfamiliar with death, Fox is unsure why Bird won’t respond to his offers of food or invitations to sing. The digitally rendered illustrations magnify what Fox can’t yet comprehend, but what readers can understand. Below Bird, a cutaway of earth shows numerous animal skeletons and shells buried in dirt, suggesting the inevitability of death. The seasons of life are further echoed in the earthy-hued geometric backdrops. A black and white moth enters the scene, and gently offers explanations to Fox about Bird’s mortality. Confused and frustrated, Fox howls at Moth and begs for the truth about Bird. “I was trying to be kind,” said Moth. “Sad things are hard to hear. They are pretty hard to say, too. They should be told in little pieces.” This beautifully illustrated picture book offers direct and thoughtful ways to process death and grief. (Ages 5-9)
CCBC Choices 2023. © Cooperative Children's Book Center, Univ. of Wisconsin - Madison, 2023. Used with permission.