He doesn’t have the worm-fed physique of the robin, the glossy red pompadour of the cardinal, or the impressively sculpted chest muscles of the eagle. No, Nerdy Birdy’s glasses are too big, his wings are too small, and he’s allergic to birdseed. He’s not good at fishing or football like Eagle, singing like a rock star and attracting fans like Cardinal, or insulting and eating worms like Robin. No, Nerdy Birdy is good at reading and video games, particularly reading about video games.
So why should Nerdy Birdy care about these cool birdies? Because he knows that being alone is awfully lonely. Just when he’s at his loneliest, Nerdy Birdy looks up to see a whole gang of nerdy birdies nestled together on a power line. Many have glasses that are too big, wings that are too small, and allergies and inhalers, while others like to read and play World of Wormcraft. But they’re all his friends now.
While the story, with its comical pen-and-ink and watercolor illustrations, could stop with this life lesson, a black vulture with contact lenses, enormous wings and “weird” eating habits arrives on the scene. And while his new friends quickly turn their tail feathers on Vulture, Nerdy Birdy remembers what it was like to be all alone and accepts Vulture, dead things and all. A humorous ending shows that there’s always room for more—and even bigger—friends. Reynolds’ entertaining tribute to nerds reveals that birds of a feather should definitely flock together.
