Hilda and the Bird Parade is the third entry in Luke Pearson's Hilda series. It was released in 2012 by Flying Eye Books.
Following the events of Hilda and the Midnight Giant, Hilda and her mother have moved away from the wilderness and into the city of Trolberg, much to Hilda's displeasure, as she longs for the wilderness and struggles to fit in city life. After Hilda gets lost in the city's twisting streets, she ends up befriending a mysterious raven, who has obtained amnesia after he was hit by a rock thrown by a group of mischievous troublemakers, as the duo embark on a quest to restore the Raven's memory and find their way back home, it becomes clear that the Raven has an important role to play in Trolberg's annual Bird Parade, but he can't quite figure out what that role is.
The events of the comic would be loosely adapted into the third episode of the Hilda cartoon, as well as the second novel in the Hilda Tie-In Series, titled Hilda and the Great Bird Parade. The comic would later be reissued with Hilda and the Black Hound in 2022 as part of Hilda: the Trolberg Stories
It would be followed up by Hilda and the Black Hound.
Hilda and the Bird Parade provides examples of:
- Bad People Abuse Animals: The four kids that invite Hilda to hang out with them eventually resort to throwing rocks at birds, tipping Hilda off that they are bullies.
- Big Shadow, Little Creature: Hilda, Raven and a Salt Lion are spooked by a monstrous shadow of what looks like the Rat King, but it’s actually just 3 white mice.
- Easy Amnesia: A rock to the head is all it takes to make the Great Raven forget everything about who he is, his powers, and how to fly. And seeing a news paper article about the Bird Parade is all it takes to restore his memories.
- Horrifying the Horror: The Salt Lion that attacks Hilda and the Raven backs off in fear when it spots a shadow that looks like The Rat King.
- Identity Amnesia: After getting hit by a rock and falling, the raven Hilda befriends can't remember who he is. Not only that, but he also forgets how to fly.
- The Moving Experience: A variation of this trope is in play when the plot has Hilda, her mom, and Twig adjusting to moving into their new home at Trolberg after their first house got wrecked in The Midnight Giant.
- No Name Given: None of the four kids Hilda hangs out with are given a name in the story. The animated adaptation only names their leader: Trevor.
- Suddenly Shouting: Hilda's mom when Hilda gets a little too inquisitive about why she can't explore Trolberg with the same freedom as the outdoors. She immediately apologizes for it though.Mum: You're not going anywhere.Hilda: But WHY?Mum: BECAUSE I SAID SO!
- Tempting Fate: During his nervous breakdown, the raven insists that he be left for the cats. When Hilda leaves him, a bunch of cats are nearby, ready to pounce on him.
- Toothy Bird: Hilda's raven friend has teeth.
