Try, try again is the lesson Crow teaches beginning readers in this picture book reader. Crow was all alone. But like all crows, he was very clever. Using autumn leaves for wings, sticks for the body and a crab apple for the head, Crow made a friend! But winter winds blew in, destroying his creation. Undaunted, Crow fashioned another bird friend out of snow but could not prevent it from melting in the warm spring sun. Alone again, Crow heard the caw, caw, caw of a real, live bird. Together they built a nest and by summer, Crow had a family. 
In honor of the official pub-day of Crow Made a Friend, I am offering a giveaway drawing that includes a hardcover copy of Crow Made a Friend, a hand-stenciled canvas Crow Tote, along with Crow paper dolls, coloring pages, a Crow Fact Dial, and a surprise not pictured here.
TO ENTER: LEAVE A COMMENT HERE OR ON MY FACEBOOK PAGE, WITH A CROW SIGHTING OR STORY! I WILL DRAW FOR A WINNER ON SEPTEMBER 28, 2015.
Crow Made a Friend is part of Holiday House’s innovative and award-winning I LIKE TO READ® books, which are just right for emergent readers. These picture books by renowned and beloved artists have been evaluated and assigned Guided Reading Levels B through G based on the Fountas and Pinnell system and feature short texts familiar vocabulary repetition to reinforce learning illustrations that are designed to be a part of the learning experience
Kirkus Starred Review:
“Crow is alone. How will he make a friend? A lonely crow tries to make a friend, literally. As the seasons progress, the plans change. In the fall, he uses sticks for a body, a crabapple for a head, and leaves for wings. But when the wind blows, his friend is gone. In winter, he piles snow, adds a seed for an eye, and sticks for wings. But when the sun shines, his friend is gone. When spring comes along, a bird calls, and this time Crow finds a real friend. Together they build a nest, and come summer, Crow has a family. Children taking their first steps into reading will easily follow the simple text on each page. The illustrations complement the text brilliantly. Done in ink and watercolors, an iridescent crow, his colorful creations, and his final true friend stand out against a white background. Readers will appreciate Crow’s resourcefulness as he creates his friends and will not need any prompting when they read the “Oh no!” text as the wind blows the fall creation to pieces or the sun melts the winter creation. The overall message of the importance of friends and family is sweet but not cloying. A brightly illustrated story perfect for the very beginner reader. (Early reader. 4-7)”
This book sounds delightful. There is a crow who lives in the alley behind my apartment who seems to be looking for a friend. I see him almost every morning, greeting him with “hello crow.” One day I expect he will respond.
What great messages this book sends. It definitely sends the message of the importance of friends but also of using your imagination which children need to use but sometimes get stifled. Lovely pictures tell more of the story as well as get the imagination going through the use of the vibrant color schemes.
this looks amazing! we have several crows in the area, but there is on that stands on a telephone pole often just surveying their domain.
We have seen a lot of crows this summer. In Vancouver. And in Arlington, VA. We are used to seeing pigeons so it was very interesting to see a different dominant bird in cities.
This is excellent! I would love to share this with my preschool students. A while back I was waiting for the bus and heard some cawing. I looked up and there were 3 crows sitting on some cables above me, just cawing away. It made me happier than one might expect.
Hello Miss Janette!
You have won the drawing for my book CROW MADE A FRIEND, and all the accessories–the crow tote, activity pages and the SURPRISE! Congratulations!!
PERFECT for preschoolers!
with best regards, and good wishes for a wonderful school year, Margaret
I had a group of crows that roosted in my yard. They regularly protected my chickens and their own flock from the red tail hawk that lived nearby.