THE BIRD COAT

What are the stories we tell children?

Upon visiting a barber, a Parisian child notices the portrait of an unusual man in an unusual coat. The man has an elephant’s nose and tusks, but this is the least strange thing about him, it seems. While cutting the child’s hair, the barber explains that the pictured gent is a tailor named Pierre. Though Pierre was a skilled tailor, he longed to fly, and while a few people at the time had attempted to do so, no one had ever succeeded. Pierre’s plans were different; Pierre would become a bird. To do this, Pierre sewed a coat of wings. Upon completing it, he called all the newspapers and gathered a crowd to watch him fly from the top of the Eiffel Tower. The day came, and Pierre climbed the tower, hugged his barber friend, jumped, and fell to his death. And life went on. This Norwegian import is an odd tale but an atmospheric one. And for that niche group of readers who check out Edward Gorey books for their sense of foreboding and dry-as-the-desert wit, this will be a welcome addition. Part caricature, part Tomi Ungerer, the illustrations are refreshingly different from most picture books today. It’s a strange story, but strange things can be good. Characters have skin the color of the page. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Offbeat but excellent—sure to stay with readers and provoke conversation.