Alight - by Jennifer Torres (Hardcover)

About the Book

"A nonfiction picture book about how the Red-Crowned Parrot, originally native to Mexico, learned to survive and thrive in new environments in the U.S. as a naturalized species"-- Provided by publisher.

Book Synopsis

Take wing with red-crowned parrots in this inspiring true story of animals adapting to an urban environment far from their native habitat, perfect for animal lovers and anyone who has ever needed to find a new home.

They squawk.
They screech.
They swoop from palm trees to power lines.

In sunny California, the chatty red-crowned parrot is a part of daily life. Every day, thousands of parrots soar above city streets, cackling and clamoring. They swipe fruit from gardens. They flap over pools and parking lots. They alight on branches where parrots did not always belong.

How did these urban parrots, native to the rugged slopes and wooded canyons of Mexico, find themselves so far from home? How did they form new communities and find new ways to thrive? This true story of animal adaptation and finding new places to belong is an inspiring example of resilience and resourcefulness in the natural world--and within us all.

Review Quotes

"Poetic text brings the 'bold and brave and boisterous' birds to life, making strategic use of parallelism and repetition throughout, where the same words recontextualized drive home strikingly different emotional beats and bring the story full circle. . . . Bright colors, clean lines, and an artful blend of geometric detail and simplified stylization combine in the digital-looking illustrations to make every spread pop."--Horn Book

"[A] poetic, lyrical narrative . . . Colorful, detailed illustrations echo the vibrant nature of the parrot's feathers in their artificial surroundings, lending a sense of hope and renewal to the text. . . . Straightforward and poignant, this book encourages readers to engage with their surroundings with curiosity, and to consider ways in which resilience is reflected in many creatures around the world."--School Library Journal

"[Torres's] simple but evocative text . . . nods to the parrots' displacement paralleling human immigration journeys, but this message is one of resilience. Vibrant illustrations favor tropical hues against which the green of the cheerful-looking parrots pop."--Booklist

"The prose has a cumulative, almost incantatory rhythm that mirrors the birds' restless energy before describing how these creatures came to belong somewhere they seemingly shouldn't. The illustrations are a standout: Pages pulse with magentas, teals, bright greens, and warm golds that evoke the hazy magic of Southern California light, the parrots glowing electric green against dusky pink skies and lush canopy scenes. Certain to have youngsters scanning their own neighborhoods for flashes of green."--Kirkus Reviews

About the Author

Jennifer Torres is the award-winning author of Stef Soto, Taco Queen; The Fresh New Face of Griselda; and other books for young readers. She writes stories about home, friendship, and unexpected courage inspired by her Mexican American heritage. Jennifer started her career as a newspaper reporter, and even though she writes fiction now, she hopes her stories still have some truth in them. She lives with her family in Southern California.

Molly Magnell is an award-winning illustrator and designer/overgrown child who can be found petting stray cats in Brooklyn, New York. She specializes in drawing lifestyle imagery, lush realms, and powerful women. Visit her online at MollyMagnell.com.