Product Description

High above the rooftops of Rome, Angelo begins his work restoring the faade of a once glorious church. There, among the sticks and feathers, he discovers a wounded bird. Angelo becomes the bird's reluctant savior. As the church nears completion, Angelo begins to worry about the future of his avian friend. "What will become of you? Where will you go . . . where will you . . . live?" he asks her. Through his artistry as a master craftsman he answers the questions for his humble friend and assures that he, himself will not be forgotten.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #190840 in Books
• Published on: 2006-03-13
• Original language: English
• Dimensions: .23" h x 8.26" w x 10.96" l, .55 pounds
• Binding: Paperback
• 48 pages

From Amazon.com
From the creator of The New Way Things Work, Castle, and Black and White, comes a poignant tale of a very curious friendship. Angelo is an old Italian craftsman who restores facades of Roman buildings. Sweeping away feathers and twigs left "by generations of thoughtless pigeons" one day, Angelo comes face to beak with his nemesis. This pigeon isn't looking so good, though, and in spite of himself, Angelo takes her home and brings her back to health, grumpily commenting, "Mamma mia! I restore walls, not pigeons." It's not long before this lonely old man grows attached to the bird, though, and makes a touching, lasting gesture to her in the final hours before his death.

David Macaulay's unusual story is funny and touching, if jarring at times, as when the narrative makes inexplicable leaps with no transition. He uses his familiar illustrative style to greatest effect in depicting the clutter of Roman rooftops and close-ups of crumbling walls and sculpture's toes. Also lovely are the images of twigs and feathers that frame the book, scattered even across the dedication and copyright pages. (Ages 6 to 8) --Emilie Coulter

From Publishers Weekly
Despite his "professional dislike" for birds, an elderly plasterer named Angelo reluctantly carries home an injured pigeon he comes across while restoring the exterior of a church. "I restore walls, not pigeons," he grumbles, but an unlikely friendship springs up between the two as he nurses Sylvia (his new pet) back to health. Later, she returns the favor when she sees that her benefactor moves a bit more slowly, she sticks around to "coo encouragement" as he presses on with his work, fanning him with her wings on hot days and entertaining him at lunchtime. Seasoned artist Macaulay (Building Big; Rome Antics) knows how to get the most humor out of his illustrations, both in the finer details (Angelo and Sylvia sporting matching red scarves in winter) and the broader strokes (as Angelo tells Sylvia of the church's restoration as his "crowning achievement," he imagines the building's faeade glimmering in glory, while she imagines pigeons perching on every available surface). He thus balances the melancholy elements of the tale with moments of lightness. Angelo's swan song to Sylvia is especially poignant. Macaulay's artwork conveys respect for Angelo's talent and commitment, and the artist wedges a good deal of architecture and sculpture into his watercolors. Though the setting goes unnamed, the rust-colored tile roofs, domed churches and other details make it clear that readers have been whisked to Italy. All ages.

Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal
Grade 1-4-Despite his "professional dislike" of pigeons, a master craftsman at work restoring stucco on the facade of a church discovers an injured bird and takes it home to nurse. When the pigeon, Sylvia, recovers, she devotes herself to helping the old man complete his task, for age is slowing him down; she "coos encouragement," and she cools his brow in summer. With his crowning masterpiece completed, Angelo can die in peace, but not before he makes some final provisions for his feathered friend. Macaulay's watercolor illustrations provide a cornucopia of surprises, architectural details, and humorous touches. Aerial views allow readers to see the red roofs and numerous church domes of Rome with Angelo as he labors on his scaffolding. There are also some delightfully droll scenes, such as a depiction of the old man hanging upside down while at work, of the bird and her companions forming a chorus line to entertain him at lunch, and of the friends' conflicting views of what a perfect church facade looks like. Although the two part in death, there is enough humor here to relieve the sadness and make this a charming story of an improbable friendship.
Marianne Saccardi, Norwalk Community College, CT
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.