My Mum is a Bird

My Mum is a Bird (University Queensland Press) Angie Cui & Evie Barrow

PB RRP $27.99 ISBN 9780702268632

Reviewed by Karen Hendriks 

Angie Cui is a debut children’s author. She is originally from Harbin, China and now lives in Melbourne. She draws inspiration from her multicultural family and their rich linguistic heritage.

Evie Burrow is an award-winning, character-driven artist and illustrator. She hand draws her illustrations and to date has collaborated on 13 picture book titles. In 2022 I Saw Pete and Pete Saw Me, was selected by the Premier of Victoria for the Prep Bag Initiative.

 t’s Parents’ and Carers’ Day at school and a child doesn’t want to bring her mother because she’s a bird. This story highlights the themes of acceptance, pride, and self-identity.

Angie Cui has crafted a quirky and highly original story. The opening page immediately hooks the reader and makes you want to turn the page. It's Parents’ and Carers’ Day at school. I don’t want to bring anyone, but Mum is coming anyway. What stands out in this text is the clear, childlike voice. The way the child describes not wanting to bring anyone captures their embarrassment and thoughts beautifully. Children who feel self-conscious don’t want any attention, and this story portrays that feeling with authenticity and empathy. Not all mums, parents or carers are the same. For a child, having a mum, parent or carer who they think is very different from the others can feel painful, especially when there’s a feeling of a lack of acceptance.

The mum in the story is blissfully unaware of how the child feels but the child is acutely aware of difference. While the other families are having fun, the child and their mum sit apart until something unusual happens. A spider appears, and the mum unexpectedly saves the day. This moment shifts everything. The other children, parents, and carers see the mum in a new light. But most importantly, the child does too. This helps bring about pride and acceptance of self-identity.

Evie Barrow’s pastel-coloured illustrations are heartfelt and warm. What stands out is that, although the mum is a bird, her love for her child shines through on every page. The front cover is particularly striking, with the child placed front and centre, wrapped warmly in the mum’s bird wings. The title is attention-grabbing, with the words Mum and Bird boldly highlighted in red. The endpapers feature soft pastel green feathers, setting a gentle, whimsical tone. On the title page, a lovely visual detail shows the child picking up a large feather, with a smaller one resting nearby, a subtle but clever introduction to the story.

Barrow’s illustrations beautifully capture the messiness and busyness of a young child’s life. The mum, as a bird, is significantly larger than the child, but never appears frightening. Instead, she radiates warmth and care. Barrow has managed to depict those quintessential "mum things" in a way that feels both tender and endearing. The child’s embarrassment is portrayed strongly and authentically, and the diversity among the other parents and carers is a thoughtful touch.

What I particularly appreciate is that, even though the child feels self-conscious, the other children are open and accepting of the bird mum. That aspect adds an encouraging and heartwarming layer to the story.

My Mum is a Bird is a warm picture book with an important message about a longing to fit in and belong. This is a book that focuses upon helping children, and this book does just that. This book is suitable for children 4-8years old in preschool and early primary school years.