★ "Stunning spreads infused with warm, opalescent hues . . . Luminous, uplifting, and thought provoking."–Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review
The White Raven is a poignant journey of self-acceptance, belonging, and the courage to rise above rejection to find light, love, and home.
From acclaimed author Kathryn Otoshi comes The White Raven, a lyrical and deeply moving picture book that asks powerful questions about identity, empathy, and acceptance. When a raven is born different, it must navigate the fear and loneliness of being cast out—but with a child's kindness and a resilient spirit, this white raven discovers what it means to be seen, loved, and free. Through evocative prose and timeless themes, The White Raven gently invites readers of all ages to reflect on what it truly means to belong and the healing power of compassion. Inspired by real-life ravens with leucism, this story is a beautiful reminder that our differences can become our wings.
Praise
? "In stunning spreads infused with warm, opalescent hues, the bird befriends a light-skinned girl and soars to eventually make a family. Otoshi superimposes blooming flowers and memories of the girl onto the raven’s body, gently underscoring the impact of the child’s kindness. A hopeful ending asks, “If this raven flies from darkness and into the light…what could happen?” Budding ornithologists will appreciate the author’s note, which explains leucism and points out that though a group of ravens is called an unkindness, some white ravens thrive instead of being ostracized for being different. All readers will readily grasp the human parallels to bullying and healing: What possibilities may bloom when differences are met with kindness?
Luminous, uplifting, and thought provoking."
—Kirkus Reviews
"The illustrations are a potent mix of ethereal beauty and narrative strength. The opening spreads, with icy blue figures against a stark white background, frame the title raven in negative space, emphasizing its difference from the rest of its family. After it is cast out by the flock, details of the bird’s body and face emerge, clearly communicating its grief and loneliness. But hope comes with the arrival of a kind and sympathetic girl, and here the book truly shines and brings its message most effectively to life.”
—School Library Journal
“Assonance propels rhythmic narration in Otoshi’s concept-driven story about a white raven. Interrogative lines frame each spread, with a pointed initial question providing a jumping-off point for deeper rumination: “If a raven is born different,/ what could happen?” Alongside fluid azure paintings, the queries trace the sorrowful possibility of rejection by other ravens (“Will its mother PROTECT it.../ or REJECT it?”). But the tone shifts to one of gentle hopefulness upon the arrival of a pale-skinned, dark-haired child who brings a palette of pinks and yellows to the page, as well as openhearted concern for the abandoned bird (“Will she HELP it.../ or TEASE it?”). And as the driving questions become loftier (“Can fears be overcome.../ through understanding and LOVE?”), the bird’s upward flight seems to provide an uplifting answer for readers to hold onto. An author’s note anchors the story in scientific fact”
—Publishers Weekly
“This quiet, contemplative picture book begins by asking what might happen to a raven born different. . . With sparse text (only a single line per spread) and bright inky, watercolor-like illustrations, this simple verse picture book encourages young readers to consider possibilities of trauma and healing . . . the book creates a gentle game of hide and seek for patient young readers, with the white raven almost hidden in initial spreads, tucked between branches, and then emerging in its true glorious self.”
—The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
