Ondu-ahlem goes to school every morning and spends his afternoons shining shoes in the market area to earn some spending money. Busy as he is, his thoughts are never far from the homing pigeons he is raising. He spends most of his free time caring for them--checking on the eggs that are just about ready to hatch and protecting them from the pesky mongoose who visits frequently at night. Inspired by the experiences of a real boy Jane and Christopher Kurtz met in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the story captures the child's deep devotion to his pigeons. E.B. Lewis's rich watercolor illustrations shimmer with small details of Ondu-ahlem's everyday life. (Ages 4-8)

A lyrical picture book inspired by the daily life of "pigeon boys" in Ethiopia

Some might say that Ondu-ahlem's favorite bird, Chinkay, is only a pigeon. But to the young boy from Addis Ababa, Chinkay is everything that is proud, beautiful, and free. Ondu-ahlem watches over his flock like a mother, feeding the orphaned chicks and guarding the birds from the attacks of stray animals. Finally, his care and training are put to the test as two birds are set free in a nerve-wracking game that tries their homing instinct and loyalty. Left on the ground, Ondu-ahlem can only hope that Chinkay will return. Elegant prose and stunning watercolor paintings dramatically capture both the poverty and beauty of life in a modern Ethiopian city.