Spring and Summer is a wonderful time to introduce children to the habit of observation of birds. As birds leave their Winter homes and fly across the World to their Spring and Summer nesting grounds, the opportunity to see a rich variety of unusual birds presents itself. These two children's books introduce the child to the world of these beautiful and fantastic creatures.
Light as a Feather: Fifteen Phenomenal North American Birds by Will Hillenbrand
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| ISBN: 9780823462551 Hardcover $19.99 USD Holiday House Publishing |
My thoughts: Though designed and intended for the age 4 to 8 audience, Light as a Feather... is a book that will captivate older readers - older children and even adults - alike. The illustrations are lovely and present attributes of each bird beautifully with text that adequately provides educational information on the specifics of each bird. These are North American birds so the book will appeal to folks North of the Equator in the Western Hemisphere.
A good amount of information is provided so readers can identify the birds included in this collection and understand a bit about what they are like physically and in habit.
A sad note that I found throughout the book is the statement that "their populations have steadily decreased over time." Causation of this is probably removal of natural habitats - forests, etc. as well as climate change.
A must have book for the family that treasures our birds and wants their family to know about the different birds that might frequent their backyards.
About the book: Let your curiosity take flight with this nonfiction picture book exploring the world of North American birds from acclaimed author Will Hillenbrand.
Why are feathers so light? Why do woodpeckers drum? What should you do if you find an injured bird? Acclaimed picture book author Will Hillenbrand has the answers that are sure to make readers’ imaginations soar!
In these pages you’ll meet North America’s most fascinating birds, like nature’s drummers (the woodpecker) to its most dynamic dancers (the sandhill crane) and flashiest fliers (the blue jay), and more. Colorful maps explore the bird’s habitats, and bright, accessible infographics invite readers to experience every part of the birds’ world, from the brown pelican’s seven-plus foot wingspan to the light waves that make bluebirds so blue. In this vibrantly-illustrated nonfiction picture book, the sky’s the limit on what there is to learn.
Extreme Birdwatching: Measuring Change on a Galápagos Island (Discovery Chronicles) by Loree Griffin Burns & illustrated by Jamie Green
My thoughts: Not a book for "back yard birding" but the content of the book will certainly appeal to serious "birders." On one of the unusual Galápagos islands, Daphne Island, a couple of scientists chronicle their study of the Daphne Finches.
Written in an easy flowing and very readable style, the information about the Galápagos Islands, particularly the island of Daphne will captivate readers. While the information in this little book is intended for ages 7 to 10 it will probably appeal to older youths and even adults. It recounts a simplified version of the scientific study of these birds and the environment.
The illustrations are done in shades of blue which lends interest beyond the typical black and white or simple line drawings often seen in books for this age group. I found the illustrations adequate and serve the purpose of making a non-fiction book even more appealing for young readers.
The generalized conclusion of the decades of study of the finches on Daphne Island is that natural selection is observable for study in the wild as is evolution based on conditions.
This would be a nice book to include in a school or classroom library as well as public libraries. I think, too, that if a child is interested in studies such as this, that they would benefit by having their own copy of the book.
About the book: A treasure trove for science classrooms, citizen scientists, and budding biologists, this “you-are-there” account of a landmark study of wild finches going about their finch-y business captures the scientific process in action.
Daphne is an island. Not one you’d choose for a vacation. There are no sandy beaches, resorts, hotels, or houses. No tall trees to make shade. The steep, rocky sides of a volcanic Galápagos island are not inviting, and most who visit this part of the world sail right past. But Peter and Rosemary Grant are not most people. A husband-and-wife team, the Grants came to this singular place with a singular goal: to study two species of wild finch. For decades, the scientists and their students counted, cataloged, and observed finches on a remote mile-wide island. Through teamwork, painstaking observation—extreme bird-watching, extreme plant study, extreme seed counting—and careful beak measurements, the group of committed scientists proved step-by-step, over forty years, how finch beaks change in response to their environment. Weaving accessible biology and the scientific process into an inspiring conversational narrative, this second title in the Discovery Chronicles series—packed with resources and back matter—concretely honors the value of hard journeys, the vision and ambition behind tedious tasks, and the astonishing power of curiosity.
Disclosure: I received complimentary copies of these books from Candlewick Press and their imprints: MIT Kids Press and Holiday House Publications. Opinions expressed in the review are mine, alone and are freely given.
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