Her vision of the gray world is haunting and aching for a brightening, a possibility.Ī picture book that will spark discussion about hope, change and making a difference in your world as a child. It lights the world around it, then absorbs the darkness into itself in a way that is heartbreaking. She creates a feather that is both light and weighty, radiant and white. It’s a lovely analogy about selflessness, sharing joy, and finding hope together.īlackwood’s illustrations are glorious. The children’s own willingness to care for the feather cleanses it once more. The dulling of the feather is a profound answer to that selfishness. And yet, it can be squandered by needing to own that magic, to contain it. The gigantic nature of the feather, its ability to remind people of blue skies and fresh breezes, makes it magical. Wild’s story is deep and wondrous, rather like the feather itself. The children decide to set it free, and as the feather floats skyward, it leaves behind a promise of blue skies.

The children carry the heavy feather back with them, caring for it through the night until in the morning it is brilliant once more. The villagers disperse, angry at being tricked. It becomes dirty and dull, absorbing the weight of their ideas and thoughts. The adults in the village though want to contain its beauty, but before they can, the feather changes. The children know it doesn’t belong inside. Two children find it and take it to the village, amazed by how light it is to carry. A giant white glowing feather floats down into a dystopian world where the sky is always gray.

The feather thief book