In a new edition of Quentin Blake’ s classic, the UK’ s first Children’ s Laureate tells a droll tale about love between unconventional birds of a feather— and the unforeseen rewards of letting go.
On her way to the village after a blustery storm, Angela Bowling stumbles upon a baby bird blown from his nest. “ Oh goodness! ” she exclaims. She scoops him up and off to home they go. She names the bird Augustus, wraps him in shawls, takes him around in a stroller, and feeds him only the best: warm milk, creamed carrots, and chocolate eclairs. After all, Augustus is now her loveykins, isn’ t he? Under Angela’ s coddling, Augustus grows bigger and bigger, until at last he needs his own special garden shed. But after another fateful gale, Angela is in for a shock when she discovers her loveykins finally spreading his wings. Told in Quentin Blake’ s distinctive art style and quirky humor, this much-loved picture book— soon to be adapted for television by the BBC— is a charming lesson in how care, camaraderie, and letting go can help any creature, big or small, to soar.
