Review by Booklist Review
In colorful, dynamic two-page spreads, Kurki introduces a flock of common birds to fledgling bird-watchers. Each spread features a detailed illustration of a bird, along with facts and figures about the bird's behaviors and where it can be found, as well as a cadre of similar birds for instance, the pages on blue herons also discuss sand cranes and flamingos, not necessarily in the same family but likely to be spotted in similar habitats. Although the information is handy enough on its own, including brief, easy-to-memorize couplets describing a notable feature of each bird's anatomy or behavior, it's Kurki's lovely, eye-catching almanac-style page design that makes this stand out. Each bird is drawn with enough distinctive detail to make it instantly recognizable but still cartoonish enough to be welcoming. The wide range of easily spotted birds arranged by order of their most common habitats means that even the most inexperienced bird-watcher shouldn't have to look too far before finding a feathered friend in his or her own neighborhood.--Hunter, Sarah Copyright 2010 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 2-5-Upwards of 120 representative birds of the world are described in colorful two-page entries, arranged in sections by habitats-"Fields," "Thickets & Backyards," "Woodlands & Forest," "Wetlands, Shores & Bodies of Water," "Deserts, Scrublands & Rock Slopes." The introduction describes such traits as size, behavior, feet, legs and bills, plumage, and songs and calls for beginning birdwatchers to notice. These and other traits (especially prey and eating habits) are touched upon in each entry. Bright, full-color illustrations invite both new and experienced birders to read the attractively arranged facts. Because not every bird in the text is the primary bird of each entry ("North Cardinal," for example, also discusses the pyrrhuloxia) and therefore not listed in the table of contents, the comprehensive index, which contains every bird mentioned here, is useful. The in-depth bibliography includes field guides, classics of nature literature spanning 1939 to the present, as well as magazines and websites. Fun and informative, this title will be a popular and valuable addition to library collections.-Frances E. Millhouser, formerly at Fairfax County Public Library, VA (c) Copyright 2014. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
This introductory guide is a smorgasbord of information about the more common species of birds.The beginning spreads introduce children to habitat and critical bird identifiers, including size, behavior, plumage and song. The left-hand page of each subsequent spread profiles one bird with a magazine-style patchwork of interesting facts, trivia and even poems about the bird. The opposite page includes more fascinating tidbits and key characteristics of the featured bird and brief descriptions of other related birds, grouped by habitat. (Did you know the American robin eats 68 worms a day or that the barn owl has asymmetrical earholes?) While clearly intended for North American readers, the book also profiles several Eurasian birds, among them the British blue tit, magpie, golden oriole and Eurasian jay. This may cause confusion or at least disappointment, since North American readers are highly unlikely ever to encounter these birds. The European golden oriole seems a particularly awkward choice, as it is pictured alongside the North American Baltimore oriole, which is not related to the Eurasian species but is a member of the blackbird family.Nevertheless, Kurki's attractive and colorful illustrations and the wealth of information in this unusual bird book will encourage children to observe the birds around them, whichever continent they may inhabit. (Nonfiction. 8-12) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
