Hilda and the Bird Parade (Hilda #3)

A perfect pitch between childlike adventure, subtle mystery, and gentle lyricism.

Following the events of Hilda and the Midnight Giant, a PW Best Book of 2012, tiny blue-haired Hilda and her mother are settling into the fictional town of Trolberg. It's a far cry from their idyllic mountain home: Hilda's mother is nervous about letting her daughter roam free, and the local kids' idea of a good time is to pull pranks on neighbors and throw rocks at birds. When a large, black bird is left injured and amnesiac after being hit by one such rock, Hilda tries to help it remember how to fly as well as find her own way home. Although Trolberg initially seems grim (down by the docks, the bird scares Hilda with a story about a rat king, to which she responds, "You can't remember who you are but you can remember that?"), Pearson shows how Hilda's optimism, curiosity, and self-assuredness help her make the most of this unfamiliar new setting. The reds, golds, and blues in the palette (Hilda's signature colors) hint at the way her outlook transforms the town from intimidating and rundown to a place where magical, wonderful things can happen. Ages 6-up. (Apr.)

Copyright 2013 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

Hilda is now on Netflix! Season 2 coming soon!

"Luke Pearson is one of the best cartoonists working today. Hilda is utterly brilliant!"
—Raina Telgemeier, creator of Smile

"Plain smart and moving. John Stanley's Little Lulu meets Miyazaki."
—Guillermo Del Toro

"Luke Pearson's Hilda stories are beloved in our house, and they will surely be enjoyed by audiences for many years to come."
—Kazu Kibuishi, creator of Amulet

"In Hilda, Luke Pearson has created a truly odd and amazingly beautiful world—Stunningly personal and original. I am in awe of his imagination. He is a real inspiration."
—Mike Mignola, creator of Hellboy

A New York Times' Notable Book for 2013
One of School Library Journal's Top 10 Graphic Novels of 2013
Nominated for the 2014 Eisner for Best Publication for Kids!

"Pearson's utter lack of pretension keeps Hilda feeling fresh, while his reading of folktales and Tove Jansson's Moomin series embeds Hilda in the long history of children's stories. [...] Hilda's dilemmas, while fantastic, also feel real [...] Pearson has found a lovely new way to dramatize childhood demons, while also making you long for your own cruise down the fjords."
—The New Yorker

"[Hilda's world] is... a glorious, exciting if also rather menacing place — one children will be eager to enter. It's also visually arresting: exuberant and lively and faintly Miyazakian"
—The New York Times Book Review

"For adults ... Pearson's measured storytelling ... and detailed, imaginative artwork make Hilda and the Bird Parade an absolute treat to dive into. It's hard to imagine a better all-ages comic will be published this year."
—Slate

"A joyous riot of animist magic."
—The Times

"Pearson has hit his stride with this world. The book has the same wonderful color scheme as the previous and maintains similar tonal shifts as well, with warm colors for cozy home scenes and cool colors for outdoor night scenes. The lettering is crisp and strong."
—Comics Alliance