Bird, bird, bird A chirping chant

K-Gr 3-The author of Trout, Trout, Trout! (2004) and Ant, Ant, Ant! (2005, both NorthWord), both illustrated by Trip Park, turns her attention to our feathered friends in this frenetic outing. Sayre presents a rhyming roll call of 63 birds native to North, Central, and South America. Winged wonders with names such as chachalaca, timberdoodle, bufflehead, and scissor-tailed flycatcher pose for pictures alongside more commonly known fowl such as the bald eagle, pigeon, stork, and yellow-bellied sapsucker. The various species are briefly introduced in an appended section. The text is upbeat and catchy, and kids will have a grand time tapping out the rhythm as the bird names are read aloud. However, Locke's exaggerated illustrations are bizarre for a work of nonfiction. The inhabitants of this over-the-top aviary sport bold colors, popping eyes, and even goggles, all of which contribute to the frantic fun, but mouths with oversize human teeth and wagging tongues are downright creepy. This lively book is ruined by pictures that try too hard to be funny.-Martha Simpson, Stratford Library Association, CT (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

"Puffin, Pelican, Roadrunner, Rail. / Barn Swallow, Tree Swallow, Quail Quail Quail!" Following up on Trout, Trout, Trout! (A Fish Chant) (2004) and Ant, Ant, Ant! (An Insect Chant) (2005), Sayre continues her bid for the role of nature's cheerleader with this gallery of American birds. Locke pumps the energy up even further with frenetic scenes of big avian caricatures that resemble their living models enough for recognition, but feature popping eyes, occasional articles of clothing and, often, oversized human teeth. In the backmatter, the author provides a sentence of two of information about each of the dozens of names she drops, and also properly suggests that a more systematic guide to birds (she mentions one) be kept close by to answer the questions that are sure to be posed by children in the wake of this exuberant shout-out. (Picture book/nonfiction. 6-9) Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.