Seven: A Most Remarkable Pigeon

As Nickel (Breaking Through the Clouds) explains, the name Seven is considered lucky in the pigeon community, commemorating the 7,000-mile journey that marks “the farthest any pigeon has flown to get back home.” But the feathered protagonist who bears this name is treated as more misfit than lucky duck. Seven, a solo hatchling in a world of two-egg families, is constantly distracted from typical pigeon behavior by the enchanting scents around him, including florals and the “nutty perfume” of rice. When his passion for scents interferes with the crucial pigeon skill of homing, his rule-bound flock is scandalized, and his parents lay down the law: “From now on, pigeons act like pigeons.” Yet when a thick fog leaves the flock unable to navigate, it’s Seven’s keen sense of smell that guides them to safety. In a story in which a protagonist’s perceived failing save the day (“He homed? He homed!”), luxuriant watercolor, gouache, and ink illustrations from Sicuro (If You Find a Leaf) set Seven against a Parisian-style landscape of colorful mansard rooftops and meandering cobblestone streets. Human characters are portrayed with various skin tones. A note about pigeons concludes. Ages 4–8. Author’s agent: Victoria Wells Arms, HG Literary. Illustrator’s agent: Andrea Morrison, Writers House. (Apr.)