The Scarecrow is probably not the first book that comes to mind when one thinks about Valentine’s Day books. However, this book, written by Beth Ferry and illustrated by the Fan brothers, takes us through each of the seasons (not only fall) with stunning illustrations and teaches a timeless lesson about the power of sacrificial love. Other themes include loneliness, loss, and friendship. Any parent who has ever had a child and then seen them leave–either to go to school, college, or finally move out of the home “nest”–will resonate with this heart-tugging story.
Scarecrow spends his days out in the field, alone. Everyone is afraid of Scarecrow, and scaring off animals is all Scarecrow knows to do:
He never rests.
He never bends.
He’s never had a single friend,
for all the woodland creatures know
not to mess with old Scarecrow.
One day, however, Scarecrow watches a baby crow fall out of a nearby tree. Scarecrow breaks his stiff pole and scoops the baby bird up, making a small nest, next to his heart, for the bird. Nestled in Scarecrow’s heart, the bird heals, and the two become fast friends. But even as their friendship grows, Scarecrow realizes that Crow is made to fly–which means Crow must leave him. Soon Scarecrow is alone, again, with a broken heart. Seemingly forgotten, he watches the seasons–summer, fall, winter–pass. But as winter comes to an end, a now grown Crow returns! Crow fixes Scarecrow’s broken pole and neatens his hay. Soon, a partner joins Crow, builds a nest in Scarecrow’s heart, and lays five eggs there. Scarecrow watches over the eggs until they hatch, then cares for and plays with the young nestlings. The story ends with the young birds now caring for and bringing joy to “their dear Scarecrow.”
Content: 5/5
This heart-tugging story teaches us about the power of friendship and sacrificial love. It prompts us to think about the gift of befriending those who are different from us. Friendship between a bird and a Scarecrow? Improbable, but possible:
These two make the oddest friends,
but friends they are, right from the start.
The crow will grow in Scarecrow’s heart. [ . . .]
And they will laugh and wish on stars,
forgetting who they really are.
This heart-tugging story teaches us about the power of friendship and sacrificial love. It prompts us to think about the gift of befriending those who are different from us.
One is made to stretch his wings and fly, the other is made to stay in one place–and yet both learn to grow beyond what is comfortable or natural in order to build a friendship that transcends their differences–both learn to sacrifice.
The story also teaches us the power of vulnerability and sacrifice. Loneliness and anger and fear were all Scarecrow knew, partly because no one had ever befriended him or come near him. But when the baby crow, maimed and vulnerable, lands close to Scarecrow, Scarecrow has a choice: will he stick to what he knows–will he persist in the familiar behavior of scaring others–or will he be flexible enough to change and learn to love? Will he break in order to bend, and finally, to heal? Scarecrow may never have known the joy of friendship–nor have been aware of the tenderness and kindness hidden within his own heart–if he had not taken the risk to love, to break himself for the healing of another.
Scarecrow has a choice: will he stick to what he knows–will he persist in the familiar behavior of scaring others–or will he be flexible enough to change and learn to love? Will he break in order to bend, and finally, to heal?
Of course, the baby crow, once grown, returns the favor: though he no longer “needs” Scarecrow, he chooses to return, bring his mate, and build their nest in Scarecrow’s heart. He does all these things because of what his friendship with Scarecrow means to him: “A friend will mend a broken pole.” But if we read between the lines, we see that Crow also loves sacrificially; he is willing to give up something of himself–perhaps some independence, the freedom to build his nest far away, wherever he pleases–in order to love Scarecrow. The story line may resonate with new parents as they reflect on how the welcoming of a little one can expand the bounds of a lonely or even self-centered heart. Parents further down the line may relate to Crow’s departure from the nest, thinking of their own children growing up, leaving home, and perhaps returning one day to raise their own children nearby or to care for the parents who once cared for them.
Design: 5/5
The illustrations are frame-worthy. Created using pen, ballpoint, and Photoshop, each picture looks like a cross between colored pencil and watercolor. The colors are rich, yet muted. Many pages feature a full spread with a farm landscape: fields full of golden wheat arched by a rainbow or with autumn leaves or snow slowly falling. Other pages contain close-ups of Scarecrow, straw poking out from under his hat and between his overalls, as he cradles a black crow close to his heart or watches the seasons change.
Style: 4/5
I always enjoy a well-rhymed text; this one is lyrical, the rhymes clever and unforced. The vocabulary has some diversity, including words like “Autumn”, “nestling”, “fledgling”, and “bud” that may be new for little ones. The text also includes plenty of strong, descriptive verbs such as “tuck”, “peep”, “peck”, and “perch”.
Overall: 14/15
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