The Only Blue Crow by Tuula Pere is the story of a blue crow who lives in a beautiful valley with a meadow. The crow has a splendid view of the picturesque mountains and the wonderful scenery beneath him. However, despite his surroundings, the crow is lonely. He often wonders if he will ever make some friends. One evening, a flock of crows suddenly appears in the valley. These crows are not like our blue crow, and when he tries to welcome them into the neighborhood, they make fun of him because he looks different. The blue crow becomes sadder by the day, and after watching some butterflies, he finds a wise owl who advises him to go out and see the world. He takes flight, but will he find what he's looking for?

The Only Blue Crow speaks to the inner adventurer within every one of us -- the part of us that seeks a connection with people who share our passions and interests. It is a touching tale that resonates emotionally and thematically with the reader in just a few pages, leaving you with good feelings and hope. Tuula Pere is a brilliant storyteller, and this book is another engaging short story. The scenic depictions of the various environments and the vibrant characters shine through Catty Flores' illustrations. The wise owl appeared in only a few scenes, but I thoroughly enjoyed his interaction with the blue crow. Readers of all ages can enjoy this picture book, whether you're a child, a young adult, or an adult.

In The Only Blue Crow by Tuula Pere, the blue crow loves his home, but he longs for new friends. After an upsetting experience with his neighbors, the blue crow weeps. He plants flowers, and when they die, he watches blue flowers bloom in their native soil. An old owl notices his melancholy mood and gives him advice that inspires the blue crow to travel. The blue crow discovers a town with an array of birds who may motivate him to continue his search for another bird of his kind. Even though the crow is sad, he is eager to explore new possibilities, and this leads him on an adventure of discovery.

Have you ever felt like you were all alone? Tuula Pere delivers a message of hope and positivity with The Only Blue Crow about a blue crow who wishes to find new friends and another blue crow. When he reaches out to his neighbors, the black crows are mean to him, but the blue crow finds other friends wherever he goes. This richly illustrated story, with drawings by Catty Flores, opens up discussions about depression, bullying, receptiveness, willingness to explore, and remaining positive when you're upset. Pere shows children how the blue crow deals with situations as he tries to cope with his loneliness. Educators and caregivers could ask children to spot the blue animals or things on every page as the blue crow searches for new friends. The author ends the story hopefully, leaving young readers to determine what happens after the end.

The Only Blue Crow by Tuula Pere is about a lonely blue crow who lives in a tree up on a hill. He loved watching the sky and looking at the valley below. One day, a group of black crows settled amongst the craggy rocks in the valley. When he visited them, he was mocked for his color and told that he was not a proper bird. A wise old owl suggested that he explore other places to gain new perspectives and chances to meet new friends. The next day, the blue crow flew across the sea. His journey brought him to a friendly town that welcomed not only blue-colored birds but also other creatures and feathered friends of different varieties. He felt pleased. As he refreshed himself by the fountain, a flash of color caught his attention. Is it possible that he saw another blue crow?

The Blue Crow by Tuula Pere is an uplifting metaphorical picture book filled with mindful and perceptive insights. It teaches us that simply being who you are is enough and that you don’t need to do or prove something to be worthy of acceptance. Being different should not make us fearful or depressed when we get rejected. This sadness or loneliness can be eased by seeking like-minded people who are more tolerant, open-minded, and accepting. The moderately paced narrative uses a language level that’s a fairly simple translation from its original Finnish version. Nevertheless, illustrator Catty Flores' striking watercolor images do a perfect job of creating an atmosphere that reflects the emotions of the blue crow through its body language and expressions, as well as the shades of light and dark in a scene. This is especially beneficial for beginning readers because their comprehension and other important reading skills are facilitated through these stunning images. It helps the reader not only in appreciating the beauty of the artwork but also in understanding the story and its themes of self-confidence, diversity, inclusivity, belonging, acceptance, and empathy. This is good material for tackling difficult negative emotions that we need to acknowledge in young people and showing them that there is a solution.

Though crows are much maligned for their raucous calls and their habit of roosting together as a “murder” of crows during the late fall and early winter, they are undeniably intelligent and social creatures. Author Tuula Pere and Illustrator Catty Flores surely had these qualities in mind when they collaborated on their children’s story, The Only Blue Crow. In it, a lonely blue crow wishes for the companionship of another crow, despite the pleasure he takes in his beautiful home and its blue skies, blue butterflies, and blue flowers. He tries to make friends with his black crow neighbors, but they reject him. It is not until he talks to a wise owl that he finds the courage to leave his home in search of other blue birds of a feather.

Illustrator Catty Flores offers some breathtaking drawings in The Only Blue Crow that truly carry the narrative. With their watercolor softness, eerie shadows, and certain slants of light, I found myself immersed in the story of Blue Crow. Tuula Pere’s words and message too are poignant. All of us have experienced rejection and the desire for the companionship of those like us. When he says, “I am so sad that I can’t even cry,” I felt as though I should cry for him. Both language and pictures combine to create a sensitive look at loneliness that I believe even a small child can understand. For me, the story ended too quickly, leaving me wanting to know more. Does Blue Crow find what he is looking for? I can only hope that he does.