Alan Huckerby releases children’s book 'Bird Life'

Alan Huckerby has published "Bird Life," a new children’s story for readers 5 and up about a girl who nurses an injured mother bird and cares for its chick for two weeks. The book is available on Amazon and other major retailers, with a message about compassion, loss and letting go.

Why it matters: - "Bird Life" is aimed at children ages 5 and up and turns a simple rescue story into a lesson about empathy and responsibility. - The book gives young readers a gentle way to talk about caring for another creature, then coping when that creature leaves.

What happened: - Alan Huckerby released "Bird Life," a children’s story about a girl who helps an injured mother bird and feeds the chick left behind. - The Write Publishers published the book. - The book is available on Amazon and through other major book retailers. - The Amazon listing is available here. - More information is available here.

The details: - The story begins on a difficult morning for Jenna, who breaks a dish while trying to help, gets sent out of the kitchen by her mother and walks into the garden upset. - Jenna meets a small multicolored bird under a flowering tree and tells it about her day. - A gust of wind knocks the mother bird to the ground. - Jenna carries the bird to her mother, who drives them to the local vet. - The vet bandages the bird’s wing and gives Jenna seed for the chick in the nest. - The vet tells Jenna to feed the chick every few hours, "not too much and not too little." - Jenna does not miss a feeding for two weeks. - A week after the mother bird is released, the nest is empty and Jenna cries. - Jenna’s mother comforts her, and both birds later return to land on Jenna’s arms.

Between the lines: - Huckerby said the idea came from watching rain and wind outside and seeing a very small hummingbird struggling in a gust. - Huckerby said the story reflects the innate kindness of children. - The book’s emotional turn centers on the hard part of caregiving: helping someone recover, then accepting the separation that follows. - Huckerby’s personal history and long writing career suggest an author working across genres, not only children’s fiction.

What's next: - Readers can find "Bird Life" now through Amazon and other book retailers. - Huckerby continues to write for multiple age groups, including children’s stories, historical family sagas and murder mysteries. - The Write Publishers continues serving independent authors in the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada.