My favorite children's book of all time
- Charity Harvey
- Dec 20, 2024
- 3 min read
Updated: Jan 4
Sometimes, you find a book that changes you. It makes you stop and think. Each Little Bird That Sings, by Deborah Wiles, was that book for me. It's special to me on so many levels.
First, I have to tell you a quick story about me. I got to meet Deborah Wiles when I was in college. She is probably my favorite children's author so it was so special! What made it even better was that I got to perform a play version of one of her other books, Love, Ruby Lavender. Both of the books I've mentioned are part of a series Deborah wrote. When I was in college, my university started a program called The Little Read. The Little Read gave us (the theatre students) an opportunity to read her book, turn it into a playscript, and go perform at local elementary schools. It is something I will never forget. And then we got to meet Deborah too! Talk about a special memory. (You can find out more about The Little Read here, if you'd like to: https://www.lr.edu/public-events/visiting-writers-series/little-read)
Well, I didn't know that there was a series connected to Love, Ruby Lavender until I graduated college and started working. As much as I love that book (I recommend it as well, it made me cry), Each Little Bird is my favorite. It also made me cry, but it really touched my heart and taught me some things.
Our main character is Comfort. The story is told from Comfort's point of view, and she is a great narrator and a unique character. We also see notes passed back and forth from Comfort to her friend/possible now enemy, Declaration. We also read news articles, recipes, and funeral notices throughout. Comfort has grown up around death because her family runs the town's funeral home. She thinks she knows everything there is to know about death; she's attending over 200 funerals, after all. She thinks she can handle it all and she's as tough as nails (and also has plenty of decorum for funerals). While trying to avoid her crazy cousin Peach, and reconcile with Declaration, Comfort suffers a loss that truly changes her. She thought she already knew everything about death, friends and family, but she discovers she still has a lot to learn.
I cannot recommend this book enough. Every child and adult should give it a read. This book has so many amazing hidden gems, deeper meanings, moving moments. Sometimes we need to read something with a deeper meaning and a good life lesson and morals. This book has all of that! An adult would consider it a simple and fast read, but I consider it one of the best books you could ever read. It already has won awards, but I say give it all the awards!!!
One phrase I have never forgotten from this book (and I still quote it to myself when I'm having a tough day), is "We live to serve." That's what Comfort has learned from her family's business. We are here to serve one another. Even when we don't want to serve, we should, simply because it is the right thing to do. If we could all live by that mindset, "I live to serve others", this world would be a better place.
