The Swallow Who Stayed

Philip Giordano’s The Swallow Who Stayed has been translated from French to English by Arielle Aaronson. This picture book tells the story of curious Iris the swallow who longs to find out what winter is like. While the other swallows try to convince her to fly south, she is stubborn and decides to stay for the northern winter and receives an acorn necklace from the oldest swallow for good luck. Iris experiences the splendor of the leaves changing colours in the fall and the wonderment of the first snowfall. But then the severity of winter sets in, and she can no longer bear the cold, falling asleep in the snow. Sam, a curious squirrel, spots her acorn necklace and, realizing there is a bird attached, brings Iris into his den. Together, they survive the winter, with Sam hunting for acorns and Iris digging for worms while seeking refuge in Sam’s cozy home. Sam is a good friend to Iris, calming her fears and quelling her desire to fly home when it isn’t safe.

Sometimes Iris woke up with a start in the middle of the night, her wings flapping wildly.

Then Sam would take out his big book of stories and read to her until she fell back asleep.

Suddenly, spring arrives, and the swallows return. But soon it’s fall again, and Iris knows she must fly south. Sam understands it will be a long winter without his friend, but, when Iris is the first swallow to return north for the summer, she finds Sam waiting for her. They will be friends forever.

Giordano has crafted a meaningful story about friendship. Sometimes the best of friends are the ones that we don’t see often but we truly value the time we do spend together. The message is relatable to all ages; even the youngest children will grasp the theme of friendship while older kids can reflect on the meaning of home and taking risks. The narrative is smooth, and Aaronson’s translation feels effortless and poetic. The illustrations, rendered in mixed media are bright and colourful. Some of my favourites include the monochromatic pages in the fall and the constellations in the sky, especially the swallow constellation when Iris longs for home. The long black tails and wings of the swallow are eye-catching and make them look graceful in the sky, and the emotions that Giordano captures in Iris and Sam’s simple facial expressions are impressive.

The Swallow Who Stayed is a lovely book that speaks to children without talking down to them It’s a simple story but told in a beautiful and poignant way, with expressive and colourful illustrations. Without reservation, I recommend The Swallow Who Stayed for families, schools, and public libraries as it offers a thoughtful exploration of friendship and resilience that can resonate with readers.