When the Birds Wake Up Singing is both poignant and joyful. An exploration of how friendship - human and animal - can pull us back from the brink of despair and give us strength.
This is a beautiful, heart-warming, accessible debut that will build resilience and hope.

This is a wonderful, heartfelt book that made me cry quite a few times. The connection between Pear and her grandma is so beautiful, as is the connection between Pear and Piglet. A joyful and emotion read that I will be making sure we have a copy of in school.

When the birds wake up
By Jessica Ellis
Published by David Fickling Books

When ten-year-old Pear is told her grandma has Alzheimer's, everything changes - well almost. As a family they have responsibilities: to each other but mostly grandma.

Told in beautiful verse from Pear’s perspective this story is a gift - it will make you think, reflect, laugh and maybe cry but above all it will fill your heart with LOVE.
“Just know she loves you with her whole heart.”

With a new home, a new school, new friends (but not really as the cruel jibes show), Pear’s life is full of sadness and change. Until Piglet arrives - a scruffy rescue dog, who helps Pear rebuild herself and her special moments with her grandma. She grows to understand how memories can be triggered and remembers what matters most, through music, friendship and her unconditional love.

Jessica Ellis has written a tender but powerful story that will help anyone struggling to understand themselves or others with memory loss.

A beautifully written story - I devoured in one day!
A story that shares the love of others.
A story that reflects on their love, carrying it forward each and every day.
A story that reminds us that …
“When the birds wake up, that’s the worlds way of saying we can start again no matter what yesterday didn’t fix.”

A MUST for every classroom, library, family to help those to show love through tenderness, care and compassion - I loved it!! 💕

Joanne Bardgett - teacher of littlies, lover of Children’s literature.
#Netgallery

This one was gorgeous and really sweet. The writing was beautiful, and it enhanced the story that is was written in verse.

I really like that it handles the dementia of the grandmother that she loved. I think it is something that a lot of children will encounter, but this book really sets the focus on loving and keeping memories alive, even when it’s hard when you are not recognised (or recognised as your mother). I feel this one deeply and wish I read this when my grandmother got dementia years ago.

Wonderfully done and highly recommend this.