A lone sailor traveling the seas welcomes the company of a seagull with a broken wing who lands on the deck of his boat. As the sailor nurses the bird back to good health, the two form a strong bond, but the pull of the south is strong and the sailor knows the bird needs to migrate. He helps the bird out by pointing his boat toward warmer climes, realizing that it’s time to say good-bye. As he places a framed feather on his wall after the bird’s departure, we see many mementos suggesting that the sailor has a wide circle of friends and family that no doubt await his return home. Pen-and-ink and watercolor illustrations are filled with fascinating details of the boat’s interior and the sailor’s rich life. (Ages 3-6)

When a lonely fisherman finds an injured bird on his boat, he nurtures it back to health and—since the bird can no longer migrate with its family—charts a course to head south for the winter. Together, the two form a special friendship and enjoy life at sea until both the healing process and the journey must come to an end. In the tradition of the classic Amos & Boris, South is a story about making new friends and the bittersweet process of saying good-bye to the ones we love. It beautifully depicts the power of new beginnings and the freedom in coming home.