Aren't You a Strange Bird?

In the spirit of Amelia Bedelia, a story of miscommunication and literal thinking that sets a curious young boy on a journey towards self-acceptance.

Carrasco is a curious boy. So when his neighbor, Mrs. Manolita, says "Aren't you a strange bird!" he wonders what she meant by that. Is he a bird? Does he look like one? Does that mean he can fly?

So Carrasco embarks on an exploration. He climbs trees and pores through books in the library, but doesn't find a bird that looks like him. He tries to eat birdseed, but it doesn't taste very good. It seems like he's not a bird. But, being as curious as he is, Carrasco has one final test to be sure: trying to fly.

Translated to English for the first time, this hilarious children's book by esteemed author and illustrator Rocio Bonilla is being brought to a new audience.

A publisher's note highlights connections between the story and Jewish teachings about identity.