Birdie For Now

By helping a small, abused dog, Dickon transforms himself.

Monkey Beach meets Green Grass, Running Water meets The Beachcombers in this wise and funny novel by a debut Cree author Birdie is a darkly comic and moving first novel about the universal experience of recovering from wounds of the past, informed by the lore and knowledge of Cree traditions. Bernice Meetoos, a Cree woman, leaves her home in Northern Alberta following tragedy and travels to Gibsons, BC. She is on something of a vision quest, seeking to understand the messages from The Frugal Gourmet (one of the only television shows available on CBC North) that come to her in her dreams. She is also driven by the leftover teenaged desire to meet Pat Johns, who played Jesse on The Beachcombers, because he is, as she says, a working, healthy Indian man. Bernice heads for Molly’s Reach to find answers but they are not the ones she expected. With the arrival in Gibsons of her Auntie Val and her cousin Skinny Freda, Bernice finds the strength to face the past and draw the lessons from her dreams that she was never fully taught in life. Part road trip, dream quest and travelogue, the novel touches on the universality of women's experience, regardless of culture or race.

When Matthew Papuchis, a father of three on the cusp of his fortieth birthday, found himself unemployed for the first time in more than 25 years, he battled self-doubt as he looked for hope and happiness-and a new job-amid a global pandemic. During this trying time, while continuing to pursue new career paths, he discovered the hope and happiness he was seeking in an unsuspecting place-nature paths. And via an unsuspecting source-birds. Little ones and big ones and the preserves, parks, and wildlife refuges they called home, all within miles of Matt's house in Plantation, Florida. He discovered by exploring a relatively unknown world and taking the time to think and reflect, while in search of those hidden gems, he found peace, clarity, and himself. Matt also learned lessons that apply to everyday life. Each chapter focuses on one lesson, including those on perspective and positivity. Above all, he learned to never lose hope in the possibilities that are out there, for himself and all of us. The book will make you laugh, cry and leave you with nuggets of wisdom and inspiration as you learn what the little-and big-birdies told him. Advanced Praise for A Little Birdie Told Me... "This inspiring book has something for everyone. Matt has masterfully and seamlessly weaved his story into life lessons, some provided from the difficult part of his journey. A Little Birdie Told Me... will resonate with bird lovers, baseball fans, and all those in between." - Tim Kurkjian, New York Times Best-Selling Author and Major League Baseball Analyst for ESPN "A Little Birdie Told Me...is a book that offers inspiration and valuable learnings for all readers, including business leaders and those who want to become a more empathetic and understanding executive. The lessons Matthew shares during his journey of self-reflection are relatable and applicable to all of us and I recommend this book to fellow hoteliers, parents, and citizens of the world." -Hervé J.L. Humler, Chairman Emeritus, The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company "A delightful read - Matt has such an easy way with words. He skillfully weaves important life lessons around his newfound passion for birds, discovered during the pandemic lockdown. We can all relate to the wise lessons in this book and laugh at some of the amusing experiences Matt shared. By the end of this book, you will feel like you and Matt are old friends." - Peter G. Kaestner, World's No. 1 eBirder with 9,294 Species Observed "A Little Birdie Told Me... is an absorbing set of life lessons forged from a journey through nature and self-reflection. Whether in crisis or calm, this book demonstrates the power of being more fully attendant to naturally occurring beauty, tranquility, and majesty. If you're ready to venture down an insightful path to peace, purposefulness, and success, it's time to step into this book." -Joseph Michelli, PhD, New York Times No. 1 Best-Selling author of books like Stronger Through Adversity, The Airbnb Way, and Leading the Starbucks Way "A Little Birdie Told Me...is not about COVID, losing your job, or birding. COVID offers context, job loss represents the unexpected challenges life can throw at any of us, and birding illustrates how being receptive to the wonders of the world can enrich our lives and feed our souls. The narrative is honest, vulnerable, and inspiring. Papuchis is masterful at inviting readers to embrace the work on their terms. His approach is consistent with the sentiment expressed by Kahlil Gibran's famous quote: "If he is indeed wise, he does not bid you enter the house of his wisdom, but rather leads you to the threshold of your mind." Enjoy this wonderful read and buy a copy for someone you love." -Leo Bottary, author of three books, including Peennovation: What Peer Advisory Groups Can Teach Us About Building High-Performing Teams

Dickon and his mother move into a new house in a neighborhood, where he longs for new friends and a dog of his own. Called Birdie by his mother, who worries when he's out of her sight for a moment, Dickon is delighted when he finds the Humane Society is on the other side of the fence behind their house. But only by disobeying his mother can he get close to a real dog. Illustrations.

Look at the Birdie is a collection of fourteen previously unpublished short stories from one of the most original writers in all of American fiction. In this series of perfectly rendered vignettes, written just as he was starting to find his comic voice, Kurt Vonnegut paints a warm, wise, and often funny portrait of life in post–World War II America—a world where squabbling couples, high school geniuses, misfit office workers, and small-town lotharios struggle to adapt to changing technology, moral ambiguity, and unprecedented affluence. How do you plan the perfect murder? Belly up to the bar with Vonnegut's narrator and listen as a self-proclaimed "murder counselor" outlines his fool-proof program for getting rid of your enemies—and assuring yourself a guaranteed annuity income for life. Look at the Birdie and the thirteen other never-before-published pieces that comprise Look at the Birdie serve as an unexpected gift for devoted readers who thought that Kurt Vonnegut's unique voice had been stilled forever—and provide a terrific introduction to his short fiction for anyone who has yet to experience his genius.

Shirley Hughes is one of the best-loved and most innovative creators of books for young children. She has written and illustrated over fifty books, which have sold more than eleven million copies. Her characters Alfie and Dogger are loved by children and parents all over the world. Bye Bye Birdie is Shirley Hughes' first graphic book for adults. A young man, in his best bow-tie and boater, meets a fashionably dressed - and rather bird-like - young lady. But when he takes her home she undergoes a transformation and our hero's dreams of connubial bliss suddenly turn into the stuff of nightmares. Totally wordless, Bye Bye Birdie showcases Shirley Hughes' brilliant drawing and her extraordinarily vivid imagination.

From Stonewall Award winner Brandy Colbert comes a novel about first love, family, and hidden secrets that will stay with you long after turning the last page. Dove "Birdie" Randolph works hard to be the perfect daughter and follow the path her parents have laid out for her: She quit playing her beloved soccer, she keeps her nose buried in textbooks, and she's on track to finish high school at the top of her class. But then Birdie falls hard for Booker, a sweet boy with a troubled past . . . whom she knows her parents will never approve of. When her estranged aunt Carlene returns to Chicago and moves into the family's apartment above their hair salon, Birdie notices the tension building at home. Carlene is sweet, friendly, and open-minded -- she's also spent decades in and out of treatment facilities for addiction. As Birdie becomes closer to both Booker and Carlene, she yearns to spread her wings. But when long-buried secrets rise to the surface, everything she's known to be true is turned upside down.

"I defy anyone to read this book -- kid or adult -- without a big, goofy grin." -- HARLAN COBEN, #1 New York Times bestselling author The New York Times Bestselling MysteryThere is trouble brewing in the Louisiana swamp -- Bowser can smell it. Bowser is a very handsome and only slightly slobbery dog, and he can smell lots of things. Like bacon. And rawhide chews! And the sweat on humans when they're lying.Birdie Gaux, the girl Bowser lives with, also knows something is wrong. It's not just that her grammy's stuffed prize marlin has been stolen. It's the weird rumor that the marlin is linked to a missing treasure. It's the truck that seems to be following Birdie and the bad feeling on the back of her neck.When Birdie and Bowser start digging into the mystery, not even Bowser's powerful sniffer can smell just how menacing the threat is. And when the danger comes straight for Birdie, Bowser knows it up to him to sic 'em.