The Language of Doves

by Rosemary Wells

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On her sixth birthday, Julietta's grandfather gives her one of his beautiful homing pigeons and tells her a story of his experience raising and training doves in Italy during the Great War.

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7 reviews
This was such a beautiful story. I got teary-eyed reading the last page of the book. This book is about a grandfather telling his granddaughter, Julietta, about doves. Grandfather had a strong relationship with doves because he has learned the language of Doves. I was not expecting for grandfather to die and Isabella coming back to Julietta! I got emotional when Isabella came back with the note from the grandfather. This can be a great book to teach young children about the Great War mentioned in the story, and how important Doves were back in the day and how they are so significant today.
Gorgeous, educational, and (bonus!) interesting & satisfying. For ages 7 up, I'd guess. There are sad bits, but the way the pictures glow makes it clear that the main message is one of hope.

The use of friendly, trained pigeons in WWI reminded me of the early Newbery winner, [b:Gay Neck: The Story of a Pigeon|207330|Gay Neck The Story of a Pigeon|Dhan Gopal Mukerji|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348089568s/207330.jpg|2487576]. That book is, of course, for somewhat older children, but is a worthy & enjoyable read for all of us are moved by this.
This is a cute book about a grandfather who shares his story of his dove with his grand daughter. He gives her a dove for her sixth birthday and tells her once she learns the language of love she will have her dove fly home to her. Her grandfather dies and her dove finally flies home to her. Sad, but cute book. Reading Level: 4-8
The story is of a young girl named Julietta and her bond with the doves. It's her sixth birthday and her grandfather tells her of the war and the doves. Since Julietta has learned the importance of the dove; her and her grandfather share a ritual and send messages via the dove. Once her grandfather passes Julietta is finally able to understand the language of doves and what her grandfather was trying to tell her before his death.
Story passed down from grandfather to granddaughter about homing pigeons during World War I. This is a beautiful story shared between family members.
Beautiful sunny brown toned full page pictures tell the story a six year old girl learns from her grandfather. As the two share the experience of her getting to know the dove she has received as a birthday gift he relates how as a boy he was raised in a Franciscan monastery and learned to care for the birds. At nine years old the grandfather was drafted into the army. His pet bird Isabella was awarded a silver medal.

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264+ Works 36,049 Members
Rosemary Wells was born in New York City on January 29, 1943. She studied at the Museum School in Boston. Without her degree, she left school at the age of 19 to get married. She began her career in publishing, working as an art editor and designer first at Allyn and Bacon and later at Macmillan Publishing. She is an author and illustrator of over show more 60 books for children and young adults. Her first book was an illustrated edition of Gilbert and Sullivan's I Have a Song to Sing-O. Her other works include Martha's Birthday, The Fog Comes on Little Pig Feet, Unfortunately Harriet, Mary on Horseback, and Timothy Goes to School. She also created the characters of Max and Ruby, Noisy Nora, and Yoko, which are featured in some of her books. She has won numerous awards including a Children's Book Council Award for Noisy Nora in 1974, the Edgar Allan Poe award for two young adult books, Through the Looking Glass and When No One Was Looking, and the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award for Shy Charles. (Bowker Author Biography) show less

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Shed, Greg (Illustrator)

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Common Knowledge

Important places
Italy
Important events
World War I

Classifications

Genres
Children's Books, Picture Books
DDC/MDS
940.3History & geographyHistory of EuropeHistory of EuropeWorld War I, 1914-1918
LCC
PZ7 .W46843 .LLanguage and LiteratureFiction and juvenile belles lettresFiction and juvenile belles lettresJuvenile belles lettres
BISAC

Statistics

Members
75
Popularity
419,425
Reviews
6
Rating
(4.83)
Languages
English
Media
Paper
ISBNs
2
ASINs
1