Time to Go! - by Marta Cunill (Hardcover)

About the Book

"Three birds are left behind when they decide they are too lazy to fly south with their flock. But, despite their laziness, the three birds are willing to put a lot of work into beating the winter cold, and they embark on a series of trial-and-error strategies to stay warm. The shivering birds try wearing winter coats like humans, only to realize that without the use of their wings they can't escape the brutal winter winds. Undeterred, the birds continue their attempts to overcome the cold -- trying (and failing at) everything from living in the water like fish to hibernating in a squirrel-like tree den. Their hilarious, wintery misadventures teach readers why birds that usually fly south are not adapted for cold weather -- these three birds simply lack the survival traits of the other animals they try to mimic. When the three birds finally decide that it's even more work to stay warm in the winter than it is to fly south, they start their journey to join the other birds. But when they finally arrive, they only get to enjoy the warmth for a fleeting moment ... before the flock announces it's time to migrate home again!"--

Book Synopsis

A fun, and funny, lesson in why following the crowd can sometimes be a good idea

Three birds are left behind when they decide they can't be bothered to fly south with their flock. But, despite their laziness, the birds are willing to put a lot of effort into beating the winter cold. The birds problem-solve and do everything they can think of to stay warm--trying (and failing at) everything from wearing winter coats like humans to living in the water like fish.

When the three birds finally decide it's even more work to stay warm in the winter than it is to fly south, they start their journey to join the other birds. But when they arrive, they only get to enjoy the warmth for a fleeting moment before the flock announces it's time to migrate north again!

Told in panels with speech bubbles and plenty of humor, this story of three birds' wintery misadventures subtly introduces themes of migration, adaptation, and animal behavior while modeling problem-solving and perseverance.

Review Quotes

"A creative, humorous and witty story, it wonderfully combines a natural phenomenon with cuteness and silliness ... Definitely a book to have and one that will foster creativity, joy, and life lessons."

-- "Children's Literature Comprehensive Database"

"A fun picture book ... It's the kind of silly story that children love."

-- "School Library Journal"

"An amusing story of procrastination--and perhaps a gentle reminder to readers of all ages just how hard we work at times to be lazy."

-- "Kirkus Reviews"

"The simple story and brief text will appeal to early grade readers, who will giggle at the birds' laziness and find it satisfying to predict that none of their strategies will work."

-- "Youth Services Book Review"

"This book provides a fun way to discuss animals in winter, hibernation, adaptation and making smart choices ... Young readers will laugh along as they learn."

-- "Calgary Herald"

"Young readers will adore the humour ... [While Time to Go!] is an obvious pleasure read, its contents could also be connected to a science unit on animals' responses to seasonal change."

-- "Canadian Review of Materials"