A Terrible Place for a Nest
by Sara Levine; illus. by Erika Meza
Primary    Roaring Brook    40 pp.
7/24    9781250861221    $19.99
e-book ed.  9781250383068    $11.99

Juno and his mom have “lost their home” and need to move. When they open the gate to their new place, they’re greeted by some noisy mourning doves that have built a nest there. Mom thinks they sound “lovely,” but to Juno, who’s upset about the move, they sound “startled and frightened.” He also questions the wisdom of building a nest in such a busy spot. The next day movers accidentally knock down the nest, destroying the two eggs inside, which devastates Juno. Created with ink, charcoal, pencil, and Photoshop, Meza’s (The Other Side, rev. 5/23) illustrations employ a muted color palette primarily of grays, blues, and tans to match Juno’s sadness. Juno rebuilds the nest, hoping to encourage the birds to return. Over time, he grows more comfortable in his new home, and the color palette becomes lighter, culminating in cheerful yellows and corals when he discovers a bird sitting on eggs in the nest weeks later. Levine’s (Sensitive, rev. 11/23) extended metaphor is clear but not heavy-handed. The final double-page spread shows Juno and his mom cuddled up reading together in his bedroom where a framed sign reads “Juno’s nest.” A reassuring story for any child coping with a difficult move.

From the July/August 2024 issue of The Horn Book Magazine.