Un jour, à la fin de l’hiver, un petit oiseau est sorti et a découvert que le monde était devenu silencieux.

Les rues étaient vides et les terrains de jeux, silencieux. Perplexe, mais déterminé, un oiseau explore la ville à la recherche d’un endroit approprié pour nicher. Les résidents d’un immeuble d’habitation le remarquent qui se repose dans un arbre tout près et sont réconfortés par son chant. En l’observant par leurs fenêtres, ils oublient leur quotidien et prennent le temps d’apprécier les merveilles de la nature. L’oiseau choisit de s’installer pour de bon dans cette communauté et il y fait son nid, un acte de résilience et d’espoir qui inspire les humains à sortir eux aussi et leur rappelle que la nature a son propre rythme, que les saisons changent et que la vie continue. Encore une fois.

Ce livre d’images sans texte est une contemplation pleine d’espoir de nos liens avec la nature et de la joie qu’elle nous procure, même dans des périodes difficiles. Également disponible sous le titre Once, a Bird en anglais.

Rina Singh has published several critically acclaimed books for children inspired by her Indian Canadian heritage, including Diwali Lights, Holi Colors and Diwali: A Festival of Lights, which was nominated for the Red Cedar Award. Rina’s own grandmother never got the chance to go to school. Grandmother School is dedicated to her memory. Rina lives in Toronto with her family.

Rina Singh's profile page

NATHALIE DION is an illustrator living in Montreal who studied Design Arts at Concordia University. Her other children's books include I Found Hope in a Cherry Tree by Jean E. Pendziwol, The Biggest Puddle in the World by Mark Lee and What's in Your Purse? by Abigail Samoun. Nathalie has received a number of awards for her illustration and has exhibited her work in Montreal galleries.

Nathalie Dion's profile page

Depuis une vingtaine d’années, Rachel Martinez a publié plus de quatre-vingts traductions dans des domaines variés pour des éditeurs francophones réputés : roman, arts visuels, récit, biographie, essai et littérature jeunesse. Elle a fait partie du conseil consultatif du Centre international de traduction littéraire de Banff de 2017 jusqu’à sa dissolution en 2019, et a siégé plusieurs années au conseil d’administration de l’Association des traducteurs et traductrices littéraires du Canada. Une mention sur la Liste d’honneur 2014 de l’International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY) et le Prix des libraires du Québec 2017 (catégorie 12-17 ans, hors Québec) figurent parmi les marques de reconnaissance qu’elle a reçues. Elle a remporté en 2005 le prix du Gouverneur général du Canada en traduction française pour Glenn Gould, une vie de Kevin Bazzana et a été finaliste en 2013 et 2015.

Rachel Martinez's profile page

• Commended, TD Summer Reading Club Recommended Reads
• Commended, CCBC Best Books for Kids & Teens
• Commended, Cooperative Children's Book Center Choices
• Commended, CBC Books The best Canadian young adult and children’s books of the year
• Short-listed, International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY) Canada Elizabeth Mrazik-Cleaver Canadian Picture Book Award

★“A very wise book, speaking volumes…Share this at story hours, or hand it to the child struggling to read; this communicates essential truths without a word. Marvelous.”

School Library Journal, starred review

“Great for encouraging conversation…The reciprocal relationship between the bird and the residents shows the comfort nature and connection can bring…A cute, simple, book with an inspiring message.”

CM: Canadian Review of Materials

“This book would be a good addition to a preschool or kindergarten class where children could use the illustrations to tell their own versions of the story. Older grade school students could use the book as a writing prompt to write and share the story of the robin. This book is also a great starting point to discuss how it feels to be lonely, especially during the winter, and how wonderful it is to be outside again in the spring.”

Children's Literature Comprehensive Database (CLCD)

★“With cinematic fluidity, Dion’s marvellous watercolor, gouache, and digital illustrations evocatively convey Singh’s thoughtful wordless narrative…This multilayered wordless picture book has much to say about nature, renewal, and resiliency.”

Booklist, starred review

★“This sweet, understated story is wordless—a perfect way to tell it, as it requires youngsters to relate to the illustrations in a unique, profoundly personal way…Refreshing, beautiful, moving, and meaningful.”

Kirkus Reviews, starred review

“Illustrations are bursting with spring...This thoughtful interpretation of the change of season and of human connection presents a variety of characters to follow and details to consider, while the wordless aspect provides the necessary space to enjoy the book slowly and thoroughly.”

The Horn Book

"The charm of this wordless book is in the gouache, watercolor, and digital art through which the story and changing seasons unfold, and in the way it deftly captures the simple joy that a bird—and nature—offers young and old alike."

Cooperative Children’s Book Center, School of Education, University of Wisconsin–Madison