The Horn Book Guide

PICTURE BOOKS

Gerstein, Mordicai

Sparrow Jack

32 pp. | Farrar/Foster | May, 2003 | Trade ISBN 0-374-37139-3 $$16.00

(2) K-3 In 1868, John Bardsley returns to his native England to fetch a thousand sparrows in hopes that they will eradicate Philadelphia's inchworm infestation. This is a charming tale of "Sparrow Jack's" predilection for the little birds, but it's too bad there's no note about the truth--many people imported English sparrows to the U.S. Lively and harmonious compositions range across every spread in a pleasing variety of frames.

Reviewer: Joanna Rudge Long | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2003