Colly's Barn

by Michael Morpurgo, Ian Andrew (Illustrator)

Overview

Annie's father is going to knock down the old barn. What will happen to Colly the swallow and all the other birds that nest there?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781405282536
Publisher:	Egmont UK
Publication date:	07/01/2016
Series:	Reading Ladder Series
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	48
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.10(h) x 0.20(d)
Lexile:	630L (what's this?)
Age Range:	5 - 7 Years

About the Author

Michael Morpurgo is the award-winning author of more than 40 books. Ian Andrew is the illustrator of The Boat.

Editorial Reviews

"[Colly's Barn] is a good choice for fluent early readers transitioning to chapter books." —School Library Journal

From the Publisher

Gr 2–3—Colly is a swallow that migrates every year to the old barn on the farm where Annie lives with her parents and Grandad. Her grandfather is very sentimental about the barn, but her father plans to demolish it. The birds that live there with Colly converse and offer one another support when they find their home threatened, first by a storm and later by the plan to tear it down. Grandad helps Annie to understand the barn's importance as a place for birds to nest and raise their young. One evening Screecher, an owl, visits them in what seems like a dream to tell them about her father's plan. Annie convinces him to spare the barn, although it is too late for Colly, who has died of exhaustion from efforts to repair the building. Young readers will learn about the migration of barn swallows and sympathize with Colly's struggles to protect her fledglings. Andrew's realistic, colorful pastel sketches enhance every page. This book is a good choice for fluent early readers transitioning to chapter books.—Diane Antezzo, Ridgefield Library, CT

School Library Journal