"Children's books–particularly picture books–that tackle the subject of war in sensitive and reassuring ways are rare ... In Sitti's Bird: A Gaza Story, the Palestinian painter Malak Mattar creates a slice-of-life narrative that explores how painting helped her overcome the fear and isolation she experienced during Israel's invasion of Gaza in 2014. The tension between Mattar's naïve, fanciful paintings and her naturalistic, moment-by-moment storytelling underscores the value of creativity during times of crisis."–The New York Times Book Review, "Teaching Young Children About War Without Frightening Them"
