Storybooks logo

Storybooks is now on the app store! Apple App Store Badge Google Play Store Badge

Lila's Bird Buzz

Lila, a girl with a grin as bright as the sun, loved listening to birds tweet.

Black girl with a bright smile listening to a bird chirping on her finger

Every morning, she'd peek out her window, greeting her feathery friends.

A young Black girl looking out her window at birds on a tree

"Good morning, Mr. Blue Jay! How's the sunshine treating you today?"

Black girl talking to a blue jay perched on a tree branch

But Lila yearned to understand their cheerful chatter, their excited trills.

Black girl with a thoughtful expression wondering about birdsongs

"What secrets do you hide in your songs, little birds?" she'd whisper.

Black girl whispering to a small bird perched on her hand

One day, a brilliant idea struck Lila like a bolt of lightning!

A light bulb glowing over a Black girl's head as she gets an idea

"I'll build a machine, a Bird Buzz, to translate their sweet songs!"

Black girl excitedly drawing a blueprint for a bird song translator

Lila gathered scraps and gizmos, buttons and wires, nuts and bolts.

Black girl surrounded by mechanical parts and tools for her invention

With a whir and a click, a buzz and a pop, the Bird Buzz sprung to life!

Black girl putting the final touches on her bird song translator machine

She pointed it towards a robin, chirping merrily on a branch.

Black girl aiming her bird song translator at a robin singing on a branch

The Bird Buzz whirred, then a voice boomed, "Good morning! Worms for breakfast!"

The bird song translator machine announcing a robin's song

Lila giggled. The robin, startled, flew away with a surprised chirp.

Black girl laughing as a robin flies away in surprise

From that day, Lila understood the birds' secrets, their joys and worries.

Black girl smiling while listening to birds singing, now understanding their language

She learned about their favorite berries, their fear of grumpy cats.

A montage of birds singing different things, translated by the machine, to the delighted Black girl

Lila even discovered a hidden nest, full of tiny, chirping chicks!

Black girl discovering a bird's nest with baby birds inside, guided by her invention

The Bird Buzz brought Lila closer to her feathered friends than ever before.

Black girl hugging her bird song translator machine, surrounded by happy birds

Reflection Questions

  • How do you think Lila felt when she couldn't understand the birds?
  • If you could invent something to talk to animals, which animal would you choose and why?
  • What do you think Lila learned from understanding the birds' songs?

Read Another Story