When the nesting box is opened to release the birds, Fidget, the bolder of the two, ventures cautiously into the world to try her wings—and finds some adventure during her first flight. Published in cooperation with the Raptor Education Foundation, whose mission is to educate the public about the plight of peregrine falcons and other raptors.

Stacey Patterson received a B.A. in biology from the University of California at Santa Cruz. She began an apprenticeship with a licensed falconer in 1988, and became a volunteer with South Bay Wildlife Rehab where she did raptor rehabilitation and participated in educational presentations. She became focused on the peregrine in 1995 when she turned a wild rescue bird into an adept educator and has never looked back. She lives with her husband Mark and a furred and feathered menagerie in Torrence, CA.

Vadim Gorbatov is one of Russia’s premier nature illustrators. Born in Moscow in 1940, Vadim’s career as an artist began at a young age, and he went on to study at the Academy of Art, Industrial Design and Applied Art in Moscow. He was the director of graphics and illustration for Soviet television before becoming a freelance artist in the mid 1980’s. His work has appeared in numerous books and periodicals, and he has had exhibitions in The Netherlands, France, the UK, and North America.

“...a glorious book. The story and illustrations are both powerful and endearing. Thank you for this tribute to a noble bird.”
—Jean Craighead George, Author of Newbery Medal award winner Julie of the Wolves and many other books for children
and young adults.

“Fidget’s Freedom is simply a great children’s book. Its perfectly detailed, soft-hued drawings—by esteemed Russian wildlife artist Vadim Gorbatov—capture the wryly humorous, often-rumpled look of these amazing, yet not always swift and sleek birds of prey. Likewise, Stacey Patterson’s text successfully negotiates the difficult narrative line between over-humanizing wild things and the equally erroneous, empathy-lacking data of scientific papers.”
—Alan Tennant, Author of On The Wing: To The Edge Of The Earth With The Peregrine Falcon.

"Look carefully at all his details—Vadim Gorbatov teaches and even amuses as he makes images of great beauty. I hope this will be the first of many books he will illustrate for an American audience."
—Stephen J. Bodio, Author of A Rage For Falcons.