Written by Vered Lebber
Illustrated by Kinneret Gildar
Price: £10.99/$12.99
Pages:
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781805001546
Highlights
- A heartwarming tale for young readers, particularly animal lovers.
- Teaches children about the importance of chesed (the Hebrew principal of loving kindness) and caring for their fellow creatures.
- Beautiful illustrations by Kinneret Gildar bring this sweet story to life.
Description
In the corner of Efrat’s bedroom, there is an old cardboard box filled with twigs and leaves. A baby sparrow has lost his nest in a storm, and Efrat has been caring for him ever since. She calls him Teensy Weensy, and feeds him nuts and seeds, gives him water and plans to keep him warm and safe until he grows big and strong. Efrat’s friends and family are not so sure about her new pet. The children in the park laugh at her, her grandparents try to convince her to get another animal instead, and her dad worries what will happen if Teensy Weensy doesn’t survive. Efrat’s confidence wavers, but she doesn’t give up. She continues to care for Teensy Weensy until, one day, she knows that he has grown up and the time has come to set him free. Teensy Weensy is a sweet, endearing tale about the importance of following chesed and having the courage to care for our fellow creatures, no matter the difficulty or the obstacles that we may face. This story will delight all young readers, particularly animal lovers.
Author Details
Vered is an author, a puppeteer and a mother of a big and happy family.
Reviews
‘Detailed pencil and watercolor illustrations make effective use of white space in this charming picture book about caring for the natural world and all its creatures. When Efrat finds a sparrow hatchling who lost his nest to a storm, she brings him inside, nestles him in a cardboard box with twigs and leaves, and names him Teensy Weensy. Despite her friends and family telling her she shouldn’t bother, she diligently cares for him as he grows—and then lets him go.’ —Danielle Ballantyne, Foreword
‘I loved Vered Leber’s book Teensy Weensy from the very first time I read it (really, probably from the moment I read the title, which is a diminutive I often use, myself). I was immediately taken by this gentle, beautiful story of Efrat, a little girl who saves the eponymous “teensy weensy” bird that has fallen from its nest, and nurses it back to health even as her dedication to the baby sparrow is questioned by friends and family.
But while a large part of the appeal was my own interest in animal rescue, nurtured by friends involved in similar efforts, I didn’t wholly understand why the story resonated so strongly until I read an interview with the author. Leber noted a theme that has been meaningful to me and many other autistic people, who spend so much of our lives being taught that our natural instincts and perspective on the world are objectively “wrong”: [it’s] important to teach children to listen to their hearts and act according to what seems right and just to them, even if everyone else thinks differently.” And wow, was that ever validating, and something I believe deeply.
‘If this kind of chesed (grace & loving kindness) is something you want to teach your kids, too – along with a gorgeously illustrated, lovely story – I suggest picking up a copy of Teensy Weensy’ — Jenn Starkman, Noodlenutkidsnbooks (IG)