How the Finch Got His Colors

PreS-Gr 1—Guertin answers an age-old question in this retelling of a Belgian folktale. The story opens on a world filled with only grays, browns, and blacks until a great rain blankets the earth and results in a beautiful rainbow. Guertin personifies the rainbow, who gives out the colors to the land, river, and animals. All of the birds receive their colors, except for one tiny finch. Fearing there will be none left, the little bird begins to cry—but much to her amazement, the rainbow rewards her patience and splashes her with all the colors of the rainbow. And forever more, the Gouldian finch, also known as the rainbow finch, is deemed the most beautiful bird in the world. Readers will pore over García's vibrant and lush illustrations. The book's design further enhances the storybook feel as the text is often nicely boxed and placed to the side, allowing the artwork to shine.