Storytime: Sandra Nickel and Aimée Sicuro launch "Seven"

Celebrate with a reading, book signing, and light refreshments at this Saturday storytime event!

A pigeon that has trouble homing in the usual way has a unique ability that ends up guiding his lost flock in this sweet tale about following your instincts.

A pigeon named Seven is born alone, instead of in the usual pair, and it soon becomes clear that he’s not like the rest of his flock. While pigeons always build their nests from straw and twigs, Seven lines his with rose petals (their scent is dreamy!). While the rest of the pigeons gobble crumbs in the park, Seven can’t help but follow the nutty aroma of rice, even if it means drifting away from the flock. What’s more, although pigeons are expected to home—to find their way home from wherever they may be by following landmarks—Seven gets too distracted by the tangy scent of peaches, the earthy smell of evergreens, and the honey of a butterfly bush to make a mental map the way his father wants him to. But when his flock takes a long trip to the countryside and the fog rolls in on their way home, Seven’s keen sense of smell might just be what leads them all back safely. Sandra Nickel’s charming tale, paired with Aimée Sicuro’s endearing illustrations, celebrates the different ways that folks of all feathers navigate the world.

Advanced Praise for Seven

“[A] soaring celebration of individuality.” —Booklist  

“In a story in which a protagonist’s perceived failing save the day, luxuriant watercolor, gouache, and ink illustrations from Sicuro set Seven against a Parisian-style landscape of colorful mansard rooftops and meandering cobblestone streets.” —Publishers Weekly

"An uplifting tale that celebrates difference." —Kirkus Reviews

"The story’s lessons—of accepting and even commending differences, and that nonconformity may be a result of being true to oneself—are clear but nondidactic. Sicuro’s soft pastel watercolor, gouache, and pen-and-ink illustrations complement the gentle tone." —Horn Book 

Sandra Nickel is an award-winning author of picture books and has two new books coming out in 2025: Seven, A Most Remarkable Pigeon, an uplifting tale that celebrates differences, and Making Light Bloom, Clara Driscoll and the Tiffany Lamps, where Sandra continues her mission to celebrate extraordinary individuals who have been nearly forgotten by history.

Aimée Sicuro is an award-winning creator of many picture books for kids. She is the author and illustrator of If You Spot A Shell, which received a starred review from The School Library Journal, and If You Find A Leaf, which was nominated for the Ezra Jacks Keats Award. Her artwork has appeared in the New York Times and other publications. She lives in Brooklyn, New York, with her husband and two children.

Host or Publisher Lofty Pigeon Books