The Last Rainbow Bird by Nora Brech, Floris Books, c2020, 2022. 9781782508007
Rating: 1-5 (5 is an excellent or a Starred review) 4
Format: Hardcover picture book
What did you like about the book? Jo and Alex discover the sound of sobbing from up high in the trees where their friend, Professor Feather, lives. The Professor has saved many rare birds but has not found a mate for the rarest bird of all, the Rainbow Bird. “Unless we can find this lonely bird’s mate, soon there won’t be any Rainbow Birds left.” So Jo and Alex load up their boat, the Explorer, and set off in hopes of finding a mate for the Rainbow Bird. They travel on and on searching for the bird with no luck. Finally, ready to give up, they locate the rarest bird of all, but in so doing, they sail over a waterfall, saving the bird, but crashing their boat! Magic intervenes. The extraordinary illustrations, hand-drawn, using digital methods, have an “other world”, old-fashioned retro feel. They are quirky and unique. An afterword explains that the Rainbow Bird is imaginary, but many scientists are working to save rare birds from extinction.
Anything you did not like about the book? No.
To whom would you recommend this book? This colorful, beautifully-illustrated story can be used as an introduction to young children on saving endangered species.
Who should buy this book? Public libraries, child-care centers and K-1 classrooms.
Where would you shelve it? Picture books
Should we (librarians) put this on the top of our “to read” piles? No.
Reviewer’s Name, Library (or school), City: Katrina Yurenka, Retired Librarian, Contributor, Youth Services Book Review
Date of Review: May 29, 2022
Youth Services Book Review 
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