Crow Call

K-Gr 4—Eight-year-old Liz and her father, just back from serving in World War II, reconnect as they share an autumn day, slices of cherry pie, and the harsh but moving sound of a crow call. Julia Fein convincingly narrates Lois Lowry's poignant, quiet tale (Scholastic, 2009) of a child and her father coming to know and understand each other after a long separation. Music by Ernest Troost gently augments the story's tone as do the soft, highly realistic illustrations in muted colors by Bagram Ibatoulline. An iconographic filming technique creates the sense of movement while focusing viewers' eyes on the expressive paintings. In an informative interview sprinkled with photographs and images from Crow Call and some of her other books, Lowry discusses her life and work, including the role of research in creating story and illustration, the art and craft of writing fiction, and insight into Crow Call and its genesis. Though restrained, this timeless, powerful story will resonate with a broad audience.—Maria Salvadore, formerly Washington DC Public Library