It's Really Cold Outside - (Really Bird Stories) by Harriet Ziefert (Hardcover)

About the Book

"Really Bird manages to stay warm while his friends play outside in the snow.By coming up with a creative idea, the friends manage to include everyone even if one member of the group isn't quite feeling up to facing the cold snowy weather."--

Book Synopsis

Join Really Bird and his friends who play outside in the snow while Really Bird keeps warm inside and directs the others in a game of throwing snowballs.

Meet Really Bird, a small bird who lives in a large city park with his friends, Cat, Rabbit, and Pup. In each story, Really Bird finds himself really wanting something - to be bigger, to have his fair share, or to be a leader - to be really silly, funny, strong, cool, happy, or brave. And when he feels something, he really feels it.

Each story is an entertaining, character-driven caper based on relatable social/emotional themes, delivered with surprise twists, high drama, and expert timing. Along the way, lessons are learned about qualities such as teamwork and compassion. The emphasis is on character growth and development through creative problem solving. Friendship and emotional engagement are at the heart of every story.

In It's Really Cold Outside!, Really Bird manages to stay warm while his friends play outside in the snow. By coming up with a creative idea, the friends manage to include everyone even if one member of the group isn't quite feeling up to facing the cold snowy weather.

Review Quotes

"K-Gr 2-Not everyone has the same idea when it comes to having fun, as protagonist Really Bird finds out on a snowy day. Bird would like to stay warm and cozy inside, but their cat and dog pals are set on outdoor play in the winter chill. Themes of problem-solving and cooperation are the focus of this lighthearted story as the group tries out a variety of ways to enjoy the day together, with little success, until they compromise by deciding to play through an open window. Short sentences and simple vocabulary make this graphic novel a solid choice for emerging readers. Cheerful, cartoonlike illustrations suit the upbeat tone of the text. A brief set of discussion questions at the end reinforces the themes and invites readers to develop their own thoughts on how to successfully navigate friendships and disagreements. -VERDICT With a cast of cute animal characters and evergreen themes about friendship and collaboration, this graphic novel is an appealing choice for early -readers.-Allison Tran "-School Library Journal

"Really's yearning to be first should resonate . . . and Foster's stripped-down but emotionally operatic cartooning tempers with just the right amount of goofiness." - Publishers Weekly, review of I Really Want to Be First!

"This funny, upbeat series opener [featuring] funny, comically exaggerated illustrations. . . . most of the art features brightly colored characters against an uncluttered background, with color-coded speech bubbles of just a few words. A chipper reminder that being a leader is about more than being first-it requires consideration and creative problem-solving." - Kirkus Reviews (Review of Book ! in series)

"Brightly colored speech bubbles and cartoon illustrations with minimal details against a neutral background make reading both the text and illustrations easy for new readers. . . The true nature of these three characters shine as they problem-solve and share fairly." - Kirkus Reviews (Review of Book 2 in the series).

"Fans of Elephant and Piggie will REALLY love Ziefert's and Foster's new early comic series. Appearing in speech bubbles, Ziefert's lively text is all dialogue making the story easy for kids to access. Foster's bright and energetic illustrations fill the pages and will captivate kids. As a reading specialist, I love that the stories teach and reinforce positive virtues such as friendship, teamwork, sharing, and kindness." -Beagles and Books

"Perfect for classroom or daycare reading and learning." -Sincerely Stacie

About the Author

Harriet Ziefert grew up in New Jersey, where she attended the local schools. She graduated from Smith College, then received a Master's degree in Education from New York University, where she was among the founding pioneers in the development and teaching of what today is known as the Common Core Curriculum. Since then she has worked as the publisher of Blue Apple Books, and has also authored more than 200 books. Ziefert has written many innovative easy-to-read books, including Sleepy Dog, which has sold more than two million copies. The mother of two and grandmother of five, Ziefert lives in the Berkshires of Massachusetts.