Elementary

A Daughter’s First Love: A Review of ‘Crow Call’

“It is a wise father that knows his own child.”  William Shakespeare

Suggested Reading Level

Grades 2-3

Review and Thoughts

Crow Call is the story about a young girl named Liz and her dad as they begin to rediscover their love after the very long separation of World War II.  They begin this journey by going crow hunting soon after he returns.  It is the fall season and Liz is dressed in her rainbow colored hunting shirt – an overly large adult shirt that comes to her knees and with sleeves that have been rolled up in order to see her hands.   From the beginning of the story the reader can sense that Liz is having trouble getting used to being with her dad again.  As they ride in the car on their way to their hunting destination she says, “I sit shyly next to the stranger who is my father.”   She also practices whispering his name over and over again, “Daddy. Daddy.”

As their trip progresses Dad begins to learn things about Liz, and she begins to feel comfortable enough to ask him questions.  Dad knows she loves the flannel shirt she is wearing, and he learns her favorite food in the whole world is cherry pie.  She finds out he was indeed scared of several things during the war.  When he asks if she is scared, she admits that she is sometimes.  The reader knows she is afraid of the word hunter and worries about killing crows just because they eat their crops, but when she looks at her dad’s gun no words are necessary.  They also share laughter and the same sense of humor.

Liz worries that she won’t know what to do when they actually hunt the crows.  Her dad has the idea that she should be in charge of blowing the crow call to attract the crows.   When it is time for her to blow into the crow call she doesn’t want to disappoint her dad.  She begins tentatively then gains confidence.  The crows begin to come.  As more and more crows come she begins to blow the crow call more enthusiastically and runs around the area enjoying the experience.  All the while Dad sits, watches, and smiles at her. He doesn’t use his gun, and she is glad about that although she knows there will probably be another hunter sometime who will fire a gun while hunting.  At the conclusion of the trip, she blows the crow call one last time to say good-bye and then takes her dad’s hand. The love between Dad and Liz is beginning to blossom once again.

The illustrations are absolutely wonderful!  They are reminiscent of the style of Normal Rockwell .  The details of every scene and the expressions on the characters’ faces enrich this gentle and beautiful story.

Lois Lowry is almost poetic with descriptive words.  Her narrative of the hunting trip when the crows begin to come is marvelous.  “Crows rise from all the trees. They scream with harsh voices and I respond, blowing again and again as they fly from the hillside in circles, dipping and soaring, landing speculatively, lurching from the limbs in afterthoughts and then settling again with resolute and disgruntled shrieks.”  She paints such a vibrant picture with her words that I found it difficult to decide whether to examine every detail of the illustrations more thoroughly or let the words wash over me and transport me to that chilly day in the fall of 1945. This is not a long chapter book but it is so rich with description that a second or third grader should take the time to read it slowly or even read it more than once.  It would help if parents read the story aloud to their child before he or she reads it independently in order to discuss difficult words, vocabulary, and subtle phrases.  The more poetic descriptions may generate some questions.

The conversations between Dad and Liz however are simple and easily understood so the basic plot of a father and daughter reuniting is clear to the reader.  They begin gradually with few words but as the story continues the conversations become more personal and revealing.  Lois Lowry says this book is not just a story lived so long ago.  It is a story that reaches “the parents and children who are groping to understand each other.”  Yet, I believe this story stands on its own because truly the love between a father and a daughter is so important and special it cannot be overlooked or the message of that love diluted.

Liz’s story does not have a lot of action; it is a calm and gentle story.  This may discourage some children who seek stories full of action.  They should not pass up the experience of reading this book however.

[Crow Call is a true story about the author, Lois Lowry, and her father who has just returned from serving in World War II in 1945.]

Possible Issues

  • Crow hunting may be an issue for some who are against hunting or using guns.

Further Discussion

  • Make a scrapbook. Compare the important life moments of a father and a child.
    • Supplies: 8×10 sheets of paper, stapler, glue or tape, pictures of special moments, pencil or pens
    • Procedure:
      • Fold the sheets of paper in half. Staple the folded side to form a booklet.
      • Make a title for the book (example: My Dad and Me).
      • Glue corresponding pictures on the facing pages – Dad’s pictures on the left side and the daughter’s or son’s pictures on the right side.  These pictures could include: Baptism, First Communion, a special birthday, a fun vacation, Halloween costume, pet, etc. Write a title under each picture (example: My Fourth Birthday) then write dates, important information, or any special memories about the event
      • Then a page about “Favorites” is just a list: color, food, subject in school, best friend, season, book, etc.
      • Final pages could include pictures of Dad and daughter or son sharing special times together.

[I’m sure there are parents and children who can make a superb scrapbook using a computer.  Personally, I feel there is something special about handling family photos and hand writing personal memories. I wonder if this because I am technologically handicapped.  I don’t think so.  I believe the tactile experience is a satisfying creative activity and time spent with a father is a time to be treasured.]

Catholic Resources

  • Prayer of a Daughter for a Father [ Shows only father’s prayer from original parent prayer]

Loving God,
you watch over each and every one of your children.
Hear my prayer for my father.
Be his constant companion.
Protect him no matter where he goes,
and bring him safely and quickly home to those who
love him.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.

  • St. Joseph is the patron saint of fathers.
    • Read the  book Good Saint Joseph to your child.  This book is a beautifully illustrated account of the life of St. Joseph, from the birth of Jesus until the death of St. Joseph.
    • Read the book St. Joseph’s Story.  Summary: St. Joseph’s hands came together in prayer, worked with wood, prepared a manger, cared for Mary, and held the newborn Jesus. All the while, the Holy Family was kept safely in God’s hands! This beautifully illustrated book tells the story of the nativity through lens of St. Joseph.