Each Little Bird That Sings

Each Little Bird That Sings
Author(s)
Publisher
Age Range
8+
Release Date
March 01, 2005
ISBN
0152051139
Buy This Book
     

Ten-year-old Comfort Snowberger has attended 247 funerals. But that's not surprising, considering that her family runs the town funeral home. And even though Great-uncle Edisto keeled over with a heart attack and Great-great-aunt Florentine dropped dead--just like that--six months later, Comfort knows how to deal with loss, or so she thinks. She's more concerned with avoiding her crazy cousin Peach and trying to figure out why her best friend, Declaration, suddenly won't talk to her. Life is full of surprises. And the biggest one of all is learning what it takes to handle them.

Deborah Wiles has created a unique, funny, and utterly real cast of characters in this heartfelt, and quintessentially Southern coming-of-age novel. Comfort will charm young readers with her wit, her warmth, and her struggles as she learns about life, loss, and ultimately, triumph.

Ten-year-old Comfort Snowberger has attended 247 funerals. But that's not surprising, considering that her family runs the town funeral home. And even though Great-uncle Edisto keeled over with a heart attack and Great-great-aunt Florentine dropped dead--just like that--six months later, Comfort knows how to deal with loss, or so she thinks. She's more concerned with avoiding her crazy cousin Peach and trying to figure out why her best friend, Declaration, suddenly won't talk to her. Life is full of surprises. And the biggest one of all is learning what it takes to handle them.

Deborah Wiles has created a unique, funny, and utterly real cast of characters in this heartfelt, and quintessentially Southern coming-of-age novel. Comfort will charm young readers with her wit, her warmth, and her struggles as she learns about life, loss, and ultimately, triumph.

Editor reviews

2 reviews
Genuine and Heartrending
(Updated: June 04, 2026)
Overall rating
 
5.0
Plot
 
5.0
Characters
 
N/A
Writing Style
 
N/A
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
 
N/A
In this National Book Award Finalist, we meet Comfort Snowberger, who lives in the midst of death. Her entire family matter-of-factly participates in the workings of the family's funeral home; their motto is "We live to serve." Comfort's own family members, starting with an elderly uncle, begin to succumb to death, one after another.

When 94-year-old Aunt Florentine dies, Comfort dreads seeing her horrid little cousin Peach arrive (especially after he puked on Declaration, Comfort's best friend, at the last family funeral). In the meantime, she is comforted by her loving dog, Dismay, as she and Declaration come to a parting of the ways. Comfort also finds solace in writing a (usually unpublished) newspaper column called "Life Notices"--much more fascinating than the usual Death Notices the paper runs.

This book has a gentle beginning, full of quirky Southern characters and names, that makes for a pleasurable read. However, it didn't fully grab me until a little more than halfway through. Comfort and company experience a thrilling and terrible disaster in Chapter 20. From that point on until I (reluctantly) closed the book at the ending, I literally could not quit reading.

By turns hilarious, sorrowful, joyful, and always life-affirming, I predict EACH LITTLE BIRD THAT SINGS will now haunt me forever. Highly recommended.
G
Comments (0) | Was this review helpful? 0 0

User reviews

3 reviews
Overall rating
 
4.7
Plot
 
4.7(3)
Characters
 
N/A(0)
Writing Style
 
N/A(0)
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
 
N/A(0)
Already have an account? or Create an account
View most helpful
Great!!
(Updated: June 04, 2026)
Overall rating
 
4.0
Plot
 
4.0
Characters
 
N/A
Writing Style
 
N/A
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
 
N/A
Reader reviewed by Jenna

Each Little Bird That Sings is a heartwarming story about a girl and her cousin and Aunt. Her mom and dad work at funerals. This is also a book filled with sorrow, so you may not want to read it if you don't like sad books, but otherwise, fairly good book!!

G
Comments (0) | Was this review helpful? 0 0
sad but VERY good
(Updated: June 04, 2026)
Overall rating
 
5.0
Plot
 
5.0
Characters
 
N/A
Writing Style
 
N/A
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
 
N/A
Reader reviewed by tennisplayer

i just reread the Each Little Bird that Sings for the second time and I loved even more then the first time. The story tells about a gil named comfort and her family. The live at a funeral home. comfort is always having an adventure, whether she's saving herself and her unruly cousin peach from a flood or having a picnic on Listening Rock withe Decleration. i think this was an awsome book and I really recomend it!
G
Comments (0) | Was this review helpful? 0 0
Excellent
(Updated: June 04, 2026)
Overall rating
 
5.0
Plot
 
5.0
Characters
 
N/A
Writing Style
 
N/A
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
 
N/A
Reader reviewed by Jo

This is a beautifully written story about a young girl who lives with her family in a funeral home. It is a story about how death is not something to fear or be afraid of because everyone who passes away leaves something behind that stays with us. It is a story about love, friendship, and family. I would recommend this to anyone grade 3 and up. It was funny, sad, interesting and disturbing all at once.
G
Comments (0) | Was this review helpful? 0 0