Are You My Mother?

A newly hatched bird tumbles from his nest and sets off alone to find his mother, asking a kitten, a hen, a dog, and even a giant machine called a Snort if they're the one he's looking for.

For the kid who's just starting to sound out words on their own, this is the story that makes them feel like a real reader.

• Big idea: Family is recognizable even when you don't yet know what it looks like — and the search for home is worth every wrong turn.
• Vibes: Earnest, funny, and gently anxious in the way only a very small, very determined bird can be.

• are working on reading their first words independently
• enjoy repeating phrases like 'Are you my mother?'
• respond well to simple, repeating story patterns
• like to talk about animals and how they're different

• Story & problem-solving: Why did the baby bird think the kitten, the hen, and the dog might be his mother?
• Feelings & empathy: How do you think the baby bird felt when he couldn't find his mother?
• Imagination: What is a Snort, and why do you think the baby bird was surprised by it?
• Real-life connection: Have you ever gotten separated from a parent, even for a moment? What did you do?
• Vocabulary & pictures: Can you find the baby bird on each page before reading what happens to him?