Stop Feedin' da Boids!

PreS-Gr 1—Little Swanda has just moved from the country to a friendly neighborhood in Brooklyn. The place is filled with old red brick buildings and diverse people but few animals. Swanda misses the animals, so she decides to feed the pigeons, unaware of the consequences. The illustrations explain why her neighbors become annoyed; one pigeon is fine, but many birds are a noisy, messy disruption. In the end, a satisfying resolution is reached when Swanda listens to her community's practical advice: "Stop feedin' da boids!" Pratt's characteristic European-influenced style lends a warm, inviting feel to the city and its people. While his illustrations fill the page, the text, on the other hand, is fairly small and loses some of its impact when surrounded by such bold art. The writing is fun (it features the Brooklyn accent in its titular line) and unobtrusively teaches kids that they have a responsibility toward others.