Nightjar is an expertly crafted symphony of emotion bringing together the beauty of the natural world, the challenges of family life and the struggles of growing up while staying true to yourself. It is a gentle and honest story of what it means to thoughtful, caring and responsible – of finding balance, listening and trying to understand each other.
Noah lives in the UK with his mum. She is insightful, kind and embraces everything Noah tries to be. His dad lives in New York. The distance between them is so much more than the length of the flight. Dad has never really understood Noah’s passion for birds and his desire to help injured creatures.
When Dad comes to the UK for Noah’s Bar Mitzvah, he tries to reconnect. It seems like they have nothing in common and Dad is never going to accept Noah for the young man he is becoming. The discovery of a magical nightjar bird forces them to face their differences and find the middle ground that will allow them to rebuild their relationship.
Katya Balen and Barrington Stoke is a wonderful combination. The beauty of the story placed in Barrington Stoke’s accessible style makes this book unputdownable. It is reassuring to know that so many children will be able to experience Katya’s wonderful storytelling without print, contrast, vocabulary or length getting in the way.
Thank you to Barrington Stoke for this incredible book.
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Books by Kate Heap:
Scope for Imagination 