SCOOT

Sparrows aren’t birdbrains!

When a little sparrow leaves her nest to investigate the big city, she starts on a journey that takes her all over New York City. Adopting the name Scoot—from the bustling pedestrians who constantly tell her to move aside—the sparrow meets older bird Scram, who shows her the ropes of living in the big city. Flying around a stylized Manhattan, the duo meet other sparrows, and the band of birds work together under Scoot’s leadership to help migrating birds overcome the confusing glow of the city at night. Overcome with pride, Scoot and company rename themselves with more stylish monikers. Like real sparrows on the sidewalk, the story jumps and flutters erratically. The plot isn’t helped by a rhyme scheme that doesn’t always work: “ ‘You need street smarts,’ / chirped an older bird. ‘Hop right! Hop left! / Like so, kid: / GO!’ / ‘Okay,’ she told him. / ‘I’ll give it a try.’ / In two smart hops, / she snatched / a French fry!” Combined with busy gouache and pencil illustrations, the book feels confounded and cluttered. The brief description of New York City Audubon’s program “Lights Out New York,” which, Manushkin explains in her author’s note, encourages buildings to turn off their lights during migration season, is interesting but doesn’t integrate smoothly. Overall, this is an intriguing idea but poorly executed. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

This one’s for the birds.