A strong burst of wind came along and blew Feather up into the sky.

The feeling of fluttering high in the sky was delightful.

If I belonged to a bird, I could fly even higher! she thought.

How she longed for the sky! How she longed to soar!

The author described this book as reflecting the ultimate human journey – that for meaning in our own life – where did we come from? Where are we going? A feather searches for who she belongs to, facing adversity and rejection along the way, yet ultimately discovering that the place she belongs is closer to home than she imagined.

Later Feather asked a magpie, “Am I yours?”

She asked a swan, “Am I yours?”

The answer was always the same, “You are not.”
What I liked: Beautiful stylistic art, book translated from Chinese (I love greater diversity in books), philosophical message.

Even better if: I don't think this will have much re-read value for the average child because there isn’t a meaty storyline to get stuck into.

How you could use it in your classroom: Could be used to discuss or introduce a discussion about identity and belonging. May be powerful when used as part of a narrative about how we define ourselves by who and where we came from and how our identity can be shaped independent of those influences too.

This book is visually stunning - I really didn't expect the quality of illustrations that you find in the book! The story is a bit repetitive in places but it fits in with what the author wants to portray - very good quality - 4 stars from me and can see it being loved by the young and old

While the illustrations were lovely and I liked the initial tale - the quest for the feather to find his owner. However, as the story progressed I found myself liking it less and less. When the hawk attacked the only nice bird in the bunch it was disturbing. Immediately after that scene, the bird lands and a chicken find him and puts him in her wing. It was an abrupt ending and unsatisfying as well.

Feather is a beautifully illustrated book with a simple plot: a feather is searching for the bird it belongs to. It asks every bird it comes across, “Am I yours?” Like Webster J. Duck, he is searching for his place in the world, and he asks many birds if he belongs to them–a kingfisher, a goose. One sweet skylark kindly takes him up into the sky so that the feather can experience flight, and is summarily EATEN BY A HAWK right in front of the sentient feather. Nothing gory is shown but this jolting event feels very violent. Blood is shed, and the only friendly and helpful character in the book is the victim. The feather is in shock, and feels withdrawn in its fall to the ground. It lies on the ground for several days, then finds its place on a hen with a joyful family, and the feather thinks, “Ah, to walk upon the earth instead of flying up in the sky can also be wonderful!” What is the lesson here? This book will scare American picture book readers. I do not recommend it for young children. The illustrations are beautiful, but the story is not appropriate for a picture book.

What a sophisticated picture book! Many books from the US have a similar concept, but are expressed in a cute childish way. I could see using this book in an elementary school class, and then comparing it to “Are You My Mother?” or a similar title.

"A Feather" is a quiet, contemplative look at belonging through the eyes of Feather - a genderless character who has lost the bird to whom they belonged. Feather wishes nothing more than to fly high on a bird, and so Feather asks each bird they encounter "Do I belong to you?" After many rejections, a kind bird takes the feather flying but falls victim to the predatory hawk. Finally, feeling defeated, Feather finds its bird and realizes that a walk on the ground might be very nice, too. While the ending of the tale might be slightly abrupt for some readers and the poor songbird isn't resurrected or magically saved as some might hope, this is an excellent read-aloud for many ages. The illustrations are rich and unique, and the pacing is just right. Cherish both the story and the visuals.

I received this ARC from Netgalley for an honest review. This is the story of a feather trying to get back to its original carrier. The story is interesting but the winner of this book is the illustrations.

This was kind of a cute story. Along the lines of Are You My Mother, actually. A feather tries to find it's way back to it's owner. Little ones will enjoy it's search!

A beautifully illustrated children's book that follows a feather on its journey to find which bird it came from. The themes of curiosity, sadness and belonging are all delicately handled, making it a really lovely story for both adults and children. Having previously heard about Cao's thought provoking and beautiful children's books I was really happy to be able to finally read one!

Visually stunning! I think this book could have been told in illustrations alone. The text is repetitive yet complex in writing--making it a good read for all ages.

Hmmmm... I'd have to say I expected more from this young read. While the idea of a feather on a quest for ownership is OK it didn't feel like it was handled brilliantly. Part of that was me not taking to the artwork, although seeing it in real double-paged spreads and not on netgalley would have helped with that. Partly the story just felt a bit pat - the drama near the end of a good deed met with ill will jars with the pattern that the quest has established, and surely when you can float and flap at will like a feather the moral is not to seek the bird from which you come but to embrace being you and yourself alone? If the book was telling the young audience to soar of their own volition it would have been a more welcome conclusion in my mind.

“Feather” was written by Cao Wenxuan, one of China’s celebrated children’s authors, and beautifully illustrated by Roger Mello.

This story begins when a young boy and girl pick up Feather, pass her back and forth, then toss her back to the ground, wondering out loud: “What kind of a bird is that feather from?”

Feather, herself, begins to wonder about that very same thing.

Where do I belong? Who do I belong to? Where do I fit in? Life is hard enough when you are among others, but Feather is beginning to feel alone, and while floating around in the sky can be lovely – at least for a while, eventually the peace of floating begins to feel more like just being out there on your own, alone. Lonely.

She meets different birds, each time asking: “Do I belong to you?” at first expectantly, hopeful. After a time, though, and after being ignored, rejected, and insulted, as she was by the Peacock, it all begins to feel more like a yearning for her place, than freedom. Floating along the wind, Feather becomes more despondent, until she finally finds home, and recognizes exactly where she belongs.

The drawings are really quite unique and lovely, very intricate and delicate illustrations, rich, deep, and colourful. Mello is Brazilian, but you can see the Chinese influence in some of the illustrations, as well, it felt to me like a artistically perfect blend of the two cultures. The story flows in a quietly thoughtful, meditative way that is will capture the hearts and minds of parents and the children they will want to read this to, as well as prompting opportunities for questions or thoughts about the need to belong to something greater than oneself.

From the moment Feather questions who she belongs to, my mind heard Irene Cara (of course) singing “Out Here On My Own”

“Sometimes I wonder
Where I've been
Who I am, do I fit in?
Make-believing is hard alone
Out here, on my own”

“We're always proving
Who we are
Always reaching
For that rising star
To guide me far
And shine me home
Out here, on my own”
“Out Here On My Own” sung by Irene Cara, written by Lesley Gore and Michael Gore


Recommended – Children Up to Age 8

Pub Date: 10 Oct 2017

Many thanks for the ARC provided by Archipelago Books / Elsewhere Editions

Feather wants to know where she belongs. She has been fluttering and floating in the sky feeling peaceful,but at times, helpless. She is determined to discover what type of bird she comes from. Her journey is not an easy one.

The wind carries Feather to mountain peaks, tufts of grass and bodies of water. She meets, questions, and is ignored by a kingfisher focused on catching fish and a cuckoo calling out to people. A peacock is insulted by Feather's query. How can Feather possibly think she belongs to the most beautiful bird in the world? Her windswept journey ends when she meets a mother hen and her baby chicks.

"Feather" by renowned Chinese author Cao Wenxuan and Brazilian illustrator Mello, is a masterful picture book that explores Feather's need for belonging. Hans Christian Andersen award winners Wenxuan and Mello have provided a well conceived and executed story accompanied by intricate textured drawings against a vibrant, color saturated background. An excellent book for ages 5-8.

Thank you Archipelago Books, Elsewhere Editions and Net Galley for the opportunity to read and review "Feather".

Feather by Wenxuan was the story of a lost father trying to figure out where he belongs. He engages in various adventures floating on the wind and being carried by birds and different creatures. Through his travels he comes to realize what home and belonging really mean. Sometimes we create our own family and that can be just as beautiful.

This is a good book for young children with a sweet ending. It focuses on a feather searching for the bird it belongs to. It reminded me in many ways of PD Eastman's Are You My Mother? It was one of my very favorite books as a child. Children can relate to the sense of belonging and wondering where they come from and what community they are a part of.

The illustrations were just okay. For the style they are, they are well done, but the style just doesn't appeal much to me.

Eh, I think this might have lost something in the translation. Having read another book about feathers, that was actually fun, I did not find this to be fun, and it isn't that beautiful a picture book, and too many words for kids to enjoy it.

A feather tries to find where it came from. In the journey a hawk eats a skylark. It turns out it is a chicken feather. THe end.

Sorry, just not that engaging. It's ok, but not really for kids

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.

A feather is trying to find it’s owner. It dreams of flying and being reunited with its bird soon. But first it must figure out what type of bird it belongs to. Overall the story is not bad but it can get a little repetitive. The artwork is at times beautiful, and at times annoying. There are pages where the print is hard to read because it’s black on a dark background. Since this is a wordy story, seeing the words is very important.

This meaningful children's story captures such complex themes as sense of belonging, deceiving appearances, etc, with vibrant images that bring its lessons to life on the page.

This is a really cool picture book. I loved the art style and the author's point of view.