Gift of the Magpie

PreS-Gr 3—Unlike other magpies that search for food and report their findings to the flock, Regina looks for shoes. Although Max doesn't understand her fascination, he accompanies her on her scouting trips. They spot real shoes on people's feet as well as clouds shaped like cowboy boots and bedroom slippers. Max's plans to impress Regina go terribly wrong when he enlists friends to help him fly back from the dump with a huge basketball shoe he hopes can serve as a nest for the two of them and their eggs. Soundly rejected by Regina, he flies away to join another flock. Through the winter, Regina realizes how much she misses him and decorates the worn shoe with buttons, lace, and trinkets. Max's return in spring signals a happy ending for this offbeat love story. The illustrations make the implausible real. The magpies' reports of food are set in colorful letters, and the words hover in the sky: "grasshoppers," "sweet peas." Close-up views of bright-colored shoes during Max and Regina's searches contrast with the empty branches and muted snow-tinged sky when he departs. The pink heart formed as the birds touch beaks and wings on the front cover signals the romantic tale with its touches of humor that lie within. Even those too young for romance will enjoy spending time with Max, Regina, and the magpie flock.—Kathy Piehl, Minnesota State University, Mankato