“Scarecrow stands alone and scares/ the fox and deer,/ the mice and crows,” Ferry (Ten Rules of the Birthday Wish) begins in sturdy verse. “It’s all he does. It’s all he knows.

All the animals know not to mess with old Scarecrow. But when a small, scared crow falls from midair, Scarecrow does the strangest thing... He saves the tiny baby crow. Soon a loving bond grows ...