Windhover

In a niche in a school wall above a playground a hawk chick, the narrator of this story, hatches out and becomes aware of sky and wind. Fed on morsels of shredded mammal, he grows rapidly, but just as he is about to take to the air he is captured by one of the children who have been watching him grow. Deprived of freedom and sustenance the creature dwindles and despairs, but is rescued by one of the other children, who also manages to rescue the culprit's self esteem. This is a short, simple and powerful story in picture book format, the direct, present-tense narration supported by vivid, soft focus but highly naturalistic paintings. The moral of the story is left implicit but would make a good talking point after a shared reading of this book. A spirited reading of this book. A spirited reading of Gerard Manley Hopkins' poem of the same name might make an effective sequel.