A Review of Tweezer Beezer: A True Story by Balazs Szabo

 - by Daria Anne DiGiovanni, August 27, 2013

(Read original review here)

In a dramatic departure from his autobiographical and haunting tale of communist oppression, Knock In The Night, Tweeze Beezer author Balazs Szabo has penned another real-life masterpiece — this time a joyful celebration of one very remarkable bird and the family that loved him as one of their own. Drawing upon his experience of living in Hawaii, in his new book Tweezer Beezer the author/artist shares the story of how a mynah bird unexpectedly stole his heart and the hearts of his two young sons immediately following a horrific hurricane. Having ravaged most of the natural wonders surrounding the Szabo home, including their garden and the multitude of nests that had taken residence amid the now thoroughly shredded trees, the hurricane also left behind a gift for the family — a vulnerable, hungry baby chick. Although initially the author doesn’t regard the mynah bird as a viable pet, once discovered amid the rubble, his two young sons successfully convince him otherwise with these heart-tugging words:

“Dad,” said Dominik, the younger boy, “you are a dad. How can you let a baby die?”

Stunned by the remark, the father said to his son, “Sweetheart, I am a human dad, not a bird dad. I could not even teach the bird to fly, even if it lived that long.”

But the father knew that he had lost the battle, and finally gave in.

No doubt this is an incident that every parent can relate to. The story goes on to chronicle the heart-warming adventures of Tweezer Beezer and his human family, including how the domesticated bird learned to fly (ouch!), became quite an attraction at a local bookstore while the family vacationed in Hungary, and developed close relationships not only with father and sons, but also with other family pets like Cica the cat. I was blown away by the intelligence of this mynah bird who not only talked but actually comprehended what he was communicating. As the author notes, the expression “bird brain” — at least in reference to a mynah bird — is really a compliment. Tweezer Beezer is one intelligent, unique and loving creature!

Written in a humorous, conversational style, this mesmerizing book will make you laugh, cry and — if you’re anything like me — utter a few “awww’s” along the way.  Although Tweezer Beezer could be considered a children’s book, it’s an engaging read for kids of all ages. When it arrived on our doorstep, my mother immediately began reading it and literally couldn’t put it down until she was finished. She raved constantly about the story, the beautiful photographs contained in the book, and the “human” nature of its subject — a precious mynah bird named Tweezer Beezer. In a world gone mad, a book like Tweezer Beezer is a welcome tonic, a reminder that there’s still so much beauty, love, joy and fulfillment in this earthly life. Of course, there’s also a reminder of the inevitability of death, at least in physical form, tempered by the reminder of the soul’s eternal nature. Still, if you’re able to read Dominik’s goodbye letter to Tweezer Beezer without shedding a tear, let’s just say you’re much more stoic than I could ever hope to be!

Pick up a copy of Tweezer Beezer today — and consider giving it as a present to all of the readers in your life, regardless of their age.

And don't forget to like Tweezer Beezer's page on Facebook.