A visually striking black-and-white book showcases counting backwards, problem-solving, and thinking outside the box. Ten birds are trying to cross a river (and no, using their wings never occurs to them). The first nine birds each come up with a technical solution: a parasail, a wheel-and-pulley, mechanical wings, a catapult, and more. As each bird gets to the other side, the number of birds still waiting to go is highlighted in a narrative that also identifies the bird by its given name: “The one they called 'Brilliant’ knew how to cross. Marching [on stilts] he left nine behind.” Finally, there is only one bird left. His name is “Needs Improvement.” And his solution is elegantly simple: He simply walks across the bridge that all the others have ignored. The intricate black pen-and-ink illustrations manage to be both serious and playful in this oversize picture book that not only affirms there are many different ways to arrive at a single destination but also illuminates the shortcomings of labels when it comes to identifying ability or potential. (Ages 4–9)

A clever counting book and fable unlike any other and winner of the 2011 Governor General's Award for Illustration.

Ten birds are trying to figure out how to get to the other side of the river. The bird they call ?Brilliant? devises a pair of stilts. The bird they call ?Highly Satisfactory? engineers a raft. One by one, nine resourceful birds make the crossing until a single bird is left behind - the one they call ?Needs Improvement.? This bird's solution proves surprising - and absurdly simple.

More than a counting book, Ten Birds is a witty story that highlights ingenuity, common sense and the inadequacies of labels. Cybèle Young's intricate chiaroscuro pen-and-ink drawings depict a rich alternative world that both children and adults will marvel over.