Karen Dugan

Hatched in a nest in Argentina, Chicu the parrot grows to maturity in the noisy, sociable world of a large flock, flying free in the bright blue sky, and rejoicing in his life and the world around him. Then he is captured by bird traders, and finds himself with Big Blue, a sailor who "adopts" him on the docks of a port city, and with whom he lives for a time at sea. Eventually left behind on land, with friends of Big Blue's family, Chicu is passed from one irresponsible owner to the next, treated like a piece of furniture, to be matched with the drapes, or as a dog or cat substitute, to be cuddled. After years of improper treatment and inadequate care, Chicu escapes, before being taken to a local parrot sanctuary, where the people (finally!) understand his needs. Here, as he is nursed back to health, a wonderful surprise awaits Chicu...

Educational and engaging, Always Blue for Chicu is a book with some interactive appeal - a blue circle is used in the narrative, with instructions to the reader to supply the word "blue" each time it appears - that young readers will undoubtedly appreciate. It highlights, through the story, many important ideas, from the longevity of parrots, to their need for socialization, and gives further information in the more detailed afterword. Published by The Gryphon Press, as part of their picture-book line intended for use in humane education, it presents an excellent overview of a parrot's needs, how those needs are commonly disregarded, by many humans, and how they can be better respected. As someone who doesn't believe in keeping birds as pets at all (unless they are injured, or require care), I appreciated the fact that the author emphasizes the importance of not obtaining birds through pet shops or breeders, in order to discourage the bird trade in general. All in all, this is a strong title, one I would recommend to teachers and parents looking for stories - particularly stories featuring birds - to be used in humane education.… (mere)