Song of the Swallows

A young boy at Mission San Juan Capistrano listens to the bell ringer's tale of swallows returning each spring from South America, then plants his own garden hoping the birds will choose it.

For the kid who waits eagerly for something to come back every year, this book turns that same feeling of anticipation into a quiet, hopeful story.

• Big idea: Waiting and preparing for something you love is its own kind of joy, even before it arrives.
• Vibes: Gentle, hopeful, quietly reverent, rooted in place and tradition

• enjoy stories about nature's yearly rhythms
• are curious about California and Mission history
• like to learn a few words of Spanish along the way
• respond well to calm, unhurried storytelling

• Story & problem-solving: What did Juan do to try to get a family of swallows to nest in his own garden?
• Imagination: Why do you think the swallows travel all the way from South America to the same mission every year?
• Feelings & empathy: How do you think Juan felt while he waited to see if the swallows would choose his garden?
• Real-life connection: Have you ever waited a long time for something you were excited about, like Juan waiting for the swallows?
• Culture & language: Did you notice any Spanish words in the story? What did you think they meant?