Chickadee: Criminal Mastermind

Debut author Silvie’s comic conceit is that a chickadee—as familiar a backyard bird as they come—actually harbors a dark tell-all story. As a group of animal friends gather ’round, and Chickadee relates its “life of crime,” it quickly becomes apparent that this nefariousness was all inside its adorable, black-masked head. Chickadee was warned by loving parents to stay away from human houses, but homes are where the food is, and Chickadee is certain that obtaining it requires guerilla tactics, which Ellis (Shhh! I’m Reading!) maps out with a wink and nudge (“First, I scout the area, checking out my target from every angle”). One day in the middle of winter, Chickadee hears two peach-skinned human children extolling its cuteness, and understands that it isn’t a thief at all: “I’m not even a bad seed. I’m just a little bird being a bird.” A late-in-the-story reference to Chickadee being lonely doesn’t allow for much exploration of that topic, but overall, it’s a snappily told picture book, and visually striking, too. Readers fly through habitats and seasons depicted in imaginatively varied compositions—including the proverbial bird’s-eye view—and soft, textured color reminiscent of lithography. Back matter includes facts about the black-capped chickadee. Ages 4–7. (June)