Hugo

Birgitta Sif Jonsdottir ’03 (illustrator)

The title character in this hardcover picture book for kids aged three to seven is a gregarious pigeon who serves as the warden of a small Parisian park, tending to its human and animal visitors and visiting the nearby apartments. When he’s injured by a dog, it leads to a friendship with a lonely little girl that ultimately inspires her to come outside and play. Hugo—which Kirkus calls “a layered, affecting story of friendship and community”—was written by an award-winning children’s author named Atinuke and illustrated by Jonsdottir (working under the name Birgitta Sif), who has contributed art to several previous kids’ books. Says Kirkus: “Soft-lined illustrations with gentle pastel colors use a well-paced mix of double-page spreads, full-page scenes, and small vignettes to capture a changing environment filled with diverse personalities.”