Building a Beak: How a Toucan’s Rescue Inspired the World, written by Becca McMurdie and illustrated by Diana Hernández, shows both the worst and best of human nature, and the resilience of an extraordinary bird.
In December of 2014, a Chestnut-mandibled Toucan in a Costa Rican forest was attacked by a group of children who shattered the bird’s beak. The bird was taken to Rescate Wildlife Rescue Center (formerly Zoo Ave), about 30 km (18 miles) northwest of San José. At the time, it would have required a blood test to determine the bird’s gender. Conservationists decided not to subject the bird to more stress, and opted for the name Grecia after the town where she had lived. Although Grecia was unable to sing, she did figured out a way to eat, scooping up food like a pelican. It was that will to live that inspired the veterinarians not to give up on her. A replacement beak would need to be lightweight and must the bird precisely. In the end, the solution came from an engineer with a 3D printer used to make nose cones for airplanes. And with her new bill, Grecia sang.
Illustration by Diana Hernández of Grecia with her broken beak.
Elementary school principal Becca McMurdie was on a sabbatical in Costa Rica when she learned of the bird with the prosthetic beak. The result of her research and writing was the nonfiction picture book Building a Beak. Grecia’s story inspired people to help, from raising funds for the beak and the wildlife center, to changing the laws surrounding animal abuse. Students began a petition that became Bill 18,298—a bill that increased financial penalties and jail time for mistreating animals. Grecia became a symbol for the wildlife protection movement.
Protestors working to change the laws in Costa Rica pertaining to animal abuse.
Diana Hernández created the illustrations for Building a Beak digitally. A native of Costa Rica, she is drawn specifically to works that make the world a better place. In this book, Grecia’s attack is depicted in shadows of purple and black, with much of the rest of the book in a palette of greens and blues mimics the forest and sky. Her brilliant use of blueprints to show the three separate parts of the printed beak and how each would fit together propels this book into the STEM category (Science, Engineering, Technology and Math). It is rare to see a book for young children that shows engineering in a way that is instantly understandable. This book does that.
Design blueprint for Grecia’s new beak
Backmatter in Building a Beak includes a timeline, author’s note, bibliography and a section on “The Beak and Beyond.” I loved that although Grecia was never able to leave the sanctuary, she sang daily with wild toucan, who perched just outside her enclosure and sang with her.
Backmatter showing the six-year timeline following Grecia’s attack.
Building a Beak offers themes of hope and resilience. It will appeal to kids who love animals, those who love science, and those, like the illustrator, who strive to make the world a better place. With its STEM focus, it makes a fabulous addition to public and school libraries.
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Building a Beak: How a Toucan’s Rescue Inspired the World, written by Becca McMurdie, illustrated by Diana Hernández
Page Street Kids, 2024
ISBN: 978-1-64567-868-7
$18.99 USA, $24.99 CAN
32 pages, ages 5-7
Wow, thank you so Susan for this lovely review!