Brave Bird

by Kathy Butler Springston 06.2024

Judy Jamison was describing her first book to all ages of people at the Fan Arts Stroll last month, and I found her to be a natural storyteller. I guessed correctly that she’d been a primary school teacher.

The Fan resident’s locally published book, “Brave Bird,” is about a young blue bird who is afraid to take that first flight and asks her friends in nature how to find courage to try.

It’s endearing like those Golden Books I still collect.

I bought the hardback “Brave Bird” and a chunky wooden bird with a hole in the middle, similar to a fidget Judy’s granddaughter Layla, now 12, carried around as a toddler. Judy’s daughter, Whitney, worried pacifiers would ruin Layla’s teeth and ordered the Etsy teether. She named it Brave Bird, telling her toddler she’d “have to be brave” and give up her binkies. Layla did and it just became a purse pal.

But the name Brave Bird set Nana Judy’s mind to work weaving this sweet tale. She’d share the story often and give out birds. Yet, her manuscript sat in a drawer for nine years. Then, for her 70th birthday in August three years ago, Judy’s daughters, Whitney and Tyler, and son, John, pitched in on an illustrator the girls found in Turkey. They uploaded a Snapfish book of the text and art to wrap for their mom, but gave her the illustrations with hopes she’d publish the story for the public.

Yasemin Arkun used the bold watercolors they requested. Her art makes the birds, a bee, a squirrel, a tree, even the wind and sun seem friendly and touchable.

Finally, Judy, like the fledgling, got up her courage. She submitted everything to publishers in August of 2022. When the book was released this February she read it at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden on both days of the Great Big Backyard Bird Count.

One hundred early wooden birds were crafted by a lady in war torn Ukraine who is not reachable now. So, a friend now creates the birds at HACKRVA Makerspace in Scotts Addition. Judy’s husband Russ makes small blue 3D printed pocket birds for adults.

“The book and bird would be a meaningful comfort to children who have cancer or countless other illnesses,” said Judy. She dreams of an affordable way to send all the items together as a package to the families of those who are dealing with the illness of a child. 

And “Brave Bird” has a life beyond the shelf. On the website judyjamison.com you can ask a blinking, talking bird to email loved ones a personal birthday message, song, or get well wishes.

Maybe in our anxiety-filled world, we all need this little bird in hand.