Carmine the Crow by Heidi Holder (1992) has an elegant retro aesthetic. The main character is a crow, intelligent and generous. Despite Carmine’s natural tendency to collect shiny objects, he gives away the sparkling magic stardust he receives as a gift. When a frog croaks miserably that he has no money, Carmine says, “‘Here you are my greenish friend . . . This is stardust. Put a pinch under your pillow and make a wish.’” In so doing, Carmine contributes to the happiness of a birthday celebration, a party he doesn’t attend. I was surprised by the modest ending to this story, but in hindsight I realize it works.
