(3) K-3 Illustrated by Antonio Boffa. Star the starling likes to show off his glossy feathers by himself, but he learns the benefits of flying together with others. The text posits the bird grows “white speckles that look like lines of tiny flying birds” on his belly as a reminder of strength in numbers. This original fable is told with a storyteller’s soothing cadence, and the soft-hued digital mixed-media illustrations with bold black details highlight the beauty of starling murmurations. Back matter gives additional information about these birds.

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax