Hello, Crow. Candace Savage

      

      H

      E

      L O

      ,

       CR

      W!

      by CANDACE SAVAGE

      illustrated by CHELSEA O’BYRNE

      GREYSTONE BOOKS VANCOUVER / BERKELEY

      H

      E

      L O

      ,

       CR

      W!

      by CANDACE SAVAGE

      illustrated by CHELSEA O’BYRNE

      GREYSTONE BOOKS VANCOUVER / BERKELEY

      Franny was a dreamer.

      That’s what her dad said.

      A dreamer didn’t think about what

      she was doing and left things in a mess.

      “If only you would learn to pay attention,”

      he said. “What am I going to do with you,

      my Franny Featherhead?”

      Franny was a dreamer.

      That’s what her dad said.

      A dreamer didn’t think about what

      she was doing and left things in a mess.

      “If only you would learn to pay attention,”

      he said. “What am I going to do with you,

      my Franny Featherhead?”

      But Franny

      was

      paying attention.

      She was watching the shadows of the tree

      outside the window dance around the room.

      She was listening to the cries of the birds

      in the branches, calling her to come

      outside, into the big, wild world.

      But Franny

      was

      paying attention.

      She was watching the shadows of the tree

      outside the window dance around the room.

      She was listening to the cries of the birds

      in the branches, calling her to come

      outside, into the big, wild world.

      “Here you go,” her dad said with a sigh and kissed the

      top of her head. “A little something for your adventure.”

      Franny skipped down the steps and into the bright morning air.

      Every bug, every leaf, every petal was shimmering with wonder.

      “Here you go,” her dad said with a sigh and kissed the

      top of her head. “A little something for your adventure.”

      Franny skipped down the steps and into the bright morning air.

      Every bug, every leaf, every petal was shimmering with wonder.

      After a while, she sat on her favorite

      rock and started to eat her lunch.

      Crumbs went flying in every direction,

      but she didn’t notice them. She was

      too busy watching the big, black bird

      that was coming toward her.

      The bird kept waddling closer:

      Hop, hop, stop.

       Hop, hop.

      Whenever he stopped, he tilted

      his head and looked at Franny.

      He looked at the crumbs

      around her feet.

      Closer he hopped,

      and closer.

      After a while, she sat on her favorite

      rock and started to eat her lunch.

      Crumbs went flying in every direction,

      but she didn’t notice them. She was

      too busy watching the big, black bird

      that was coming toward her.

      The bird kept waddling closer:

      Hop, hop, stop.

       Hop, hop.

      Whenever he stopped, he tilted

      his head and looked at Franny.

      He looked at the crumbs

      around her feet.

      Closer he hopped,

      and closer.

      When the crow had poked and prodded in the grass and

      eaten every last crumb, he fixed one round eye on Franny

      and gave her a little nod.

      Then, with a rush of rustling feathers, he leaped into

      the sky and was gone.

      Franny sat completely still. She hardly dared to breathe.

      He was so close she could have reached over and touched

      his wings, but she didn’t.

      “Hello, Crow,” she whispered, because she knew that’s who he was.

      “I am very pleased to make your acquaintance.”

      When the crow had poked and prodded in the grass and

      eaten every last crumb, he fixed one round eye on Franny

      and gave her a little nod.

      Then, with a rush of rustling feathers, he leaped into

      the sky and was gone.

      Franny