Wedding Birds by Jutta Ash (translated by Naomi Lewis)

This is a beautifully illustrated version of a traditional German song with English words by Naomi Lewis. Jutta Ash is already renowned for her book Jorinda and Joringel. The wedding story flows works well with the use of simple but effective rhyming couplets and this would be a great way to introduce this literary device to students. A blackbird and a thrush marry in a splendid ceremony attended by an array of well-plumed birds. Naomi Lewis sadly passed away in 2009 but will be remembered for her translations of the Danish author Hans Cristian Andersen. She reached the grand old age of 98.

'Hello, Barney' by Mary K. Pershall

This is a very moving and thought-provoking story and I must admit that had to wipe a tear or two away at the end. Long ago in the Australian bush, a little boy called William Jackson trapped a young cockatoo and put him in a cage (which I found hard to accept). He named him Barney. From that first day together until William was an old man Barney was his special pet. This is basically the story of what Barney saw from his cage in William's garden; the changing seasons, the passing years, the growing up of both children and the gum trees. And what happens when William Jackson is too old to care for Barney anymore...

The illustrations by Mark Wilson are simple stunning and how much character does the aged face of William Jackson have? Heaps. This is one of the best picture books I have ever read and raises many philosophical questions about caring for pets, and old age.