Review by Booklist Review
In the lovely jacket art that graces this book, a bird flies across a cityscape at sunset. The image is appropriate for a book that asks readers to consider the ways in which people's choices affect the lives of North American birds. A typical double-page spread introduces a species in a colorful acrylic painting accompanied by a few lines of text on the left-hand page. One section tells that piping plovers' eggs blend into the coastal sand where they are laid, making them vulnerable to unwary people on the beach. Above the illustration, three sentences broaden the concept and explain how people can help, ending with When people set aside and protect parts of the beach, birds can live and grow. Other pages suggest building nesting boxes, using less oil, and restoring wildlife habitats. A bibliography is appended. On the end papers, small maps indicate the range of the 24 birds mentioned. With its emphasis on conservation, this is a useful addition to science collections.--Phelan, Carolyn Copyright 2009 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 2-5-Small changes mark the revision of this attractive 2009 survey of how humans harm and help birds in their various environments. Bits of new material appear in several of the sidebars, which introduce specific birds. Just one, Kirtland's warbler, now contains less specific information. One entry-the common murre and a description of how oil spills adversely affect the species-was removed, replaced by an spread on Anna's hummingbird and material on the millions of birds that die each year after crashing into windows. The closing list of suggested ways children can help birds now carries a related item on marking windows at home or school. Several newer titles have also been added to the bibliography. The book is well organized and laid out and should make for a useful prompt for discussing human effects on the environment: statements about the problems birds encounter are accompanied by handsome, realistic paintings of the creatures in assorted settings with added sidebar discussion and small insets of nesting birds. VERDICT The original edition needn't be replaced, but collections that don't yet own the title should consider purchasing this revised version.-Margaret Bush, Simmons College, Boston © Copyright 2015. 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 Horn Book Review
Realistic illustrations of various birds in their habitats highlight what birds need to thrive and what people can do to enhance their survival. Each double-page spread provides brief general information about birds; particular species are featured in sidebars. The balance of nature in ecosystems is emphasized while promoting basic ideas of conservation. Bib. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
