Pidge.

An illustrated short story in a picture book format, which I wrote for middle to upper primary readers.

This is the story of an upper primary school boy who finds a wild pigeon while he's out bike riding and takes it home until it learns to fly. 'Pidge' soon becomes a special part of the family. When it's time to return the pigeon to the wild, the boy wonders whether he should let it go or keep it.

My eldest son, Ben, was twelve when he found the original 'Pidge' and brought it home. Indeed it came with us to seaside Point Lonsdale for a week of family holiday fun! But there were no crows and he took months, not days, to learn to fly.

PIDGE was published in paperback in 1997 by Little Ark, Allen & Unwin. It's illustrated by award winning Melbourne illustrator Ann James. Now out of print in English, it's available in Korean!! My first book to be translated into a language other than English.

Chapter 1 extract.

'Dad, wait!' Something was scuffling in the long grass.

The boy leapt from his bike. 'Dad! It's a pigeon. I think it's hurt. Can we take it home?'

'Come on, Woody, we're already late for lunch.' his father yelled back. 'Birds are happiest in the wild.'

Woody's bike rustled the grass and the little pigeon took fright. It flapped and fluttered, but couldn't get off the ground.

'Please, Dad. We can't just leave him. Cats will get him.'

Woody's father wheeled around. He scanned the trees. 'Can't see a nest, or I'd put him back. He looks big enough to leave home, but you're right, he won't be safe until he can fly.'

Woody's hands closed around the soft body of the bird. He could feel its heart thumping. His own heart was beating fast too, but he picked up the bird and placed it gently onto his bike-bag. And there it settled.