A lyrical counting book begins with a single starling (“1 dark bird / perched way up high / a view of town / a taste of sky”), joined by others one by one in rhyming verse up to ten. The number of birds continues to increase (“a hundred here / and there / and there”), growing into a huge flock. Startled by a hawk, the starlings begin to swoop and soar in unison (“Waves like water / dark then light / from down to up, then left to right”). A brief note on the title page defines this event as a murmuration, stating it is “quite a sight to see …” It is here, too, in deeply hued illustrations that show the dramatic flight against a vibrant, setting–sun sky. As night falls, the birds begin to fly off, or roost, until there are only 10 … then 9 … and, eventually, 1 again. (Ages 3–6)

From award-winning author Liz Garton Scanlon and celebrated artist Frann Preston-Gannon comes a gorgeously illustrated, lyrical counting book that will have young readers’ imaginations taking flight.

One dark bird is perched up high, with a view of the town and a taste of the sky. Then she’s joined by two more, then three, then four. Before long, there are hundreds of starlings dancing across the sky—and avoiding a hunting hawk with one of the most spectacular tricks in the animal kingdom. Then, when night comes, the starlings begin to depart, until finally there is just one dark bird perched way up high, with a view of the town and a taste of the sky.