Review by Booklist Review
Brilliantly colored cut-paper collage illustrations and simple quatrains introduce young readers to 20 species of common North American birds. Each bird is introduced in bold capitals before getting to the verses, all of which are nicely set against rich-toned backgrounds. VanDerwater wisely selects an array of avians notable for their ubiquity, which also display a wide variety of attributes and typical habitats. Woodpeckers, nuthatches, and chickadees can be found in a forest, while finches, jays, and pigeons can easily be seen in an urban environment. The verses also note a broad selection of features, such as coloring, song, nest type, and diet. The final pages of the book bring together all the verses of the previous pages into one gentle and well-crafted poem. Metrano's eye-catching cut-paper illustrations reveal plenty of details, so that, even though the images are simplified, little ones will easily be able to identify each bird. The big, bold illustrations and lyrical lines make this a great choice for a read-aloud, while further information in the closing pages will satisfy burgeoning birders.--Goldsmith, Francisca Copyright 2016 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
This striking tribute to avian diversity introduces 20 North American species of birds. VanDerwater's subtle poem describes their distinguishing characteristics, often using as few as four words per bird: "Heron fishes with his bill./ Sparrow hops in brown./ Mockingbird has many voices./ Pigeon lives in town." These succinct profiles are bookended by quiet verses about bird-watching. Newcomer Metrano's lovely cut-paper artwork gives the birds crisp outlines and distinct feather patterns; set against unadorned, colored backgrounds, the birds take on the poised, posed quality of stained glass windows. A closing section offers additional details about each bird. Ages 3-5. Author's agent: Elizabeth Harding, Curtis Brown. (Feb.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2-This book introduces children to 20 common North American birds via simple, rhyming verses that highlight the avian species' appearances and/or behaviors ("HERON fishes with his bill./SPARROW hops in brown./MOCKINGBIRD has many voices./PIGEON lives in town.") and clear, often life-size cut-paper illustrations. Set against predominantly solid backgrounds, the expert paper-cuts are bold and eye-catching, capturing the texture and telltale characteristics of the birds' plumage. While all of the illustrations are aesthetically pleasing, not all of the subjects appear to be to scale in the pairings, and the distinctive blue jay and American goldfinch are referred to merely as "Jay" and "Finch," respectively. A four-page visual glossary provides additional information. With this book and possibly a simplified field guide in hand, kids in the primary grades can sharpen observation skills and begin to learn a bit about their feathered neighbors. VERDICT A great way to expose children to the wonders of nature, many of which are in their own backyards.-Luann Toth, School Library Journal © Copyright 2016. 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
Chickadee wears a wee black cap. / Jay is loud and bold. / Nuthatch perches upside-down. / Finch is clothed in gold." Simple rhyming text pays homage to common birds, describing characteristics of mockingbirds, robins, pigeons, and more. Careful cut-paper illustrations provide visual details to complement the avian appreciation. Additional information on each of the twenty birds is appended. Websites. (c) Copyright 2017. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
A birding primer and rhyming introduction to 20 familiar birds. Poet and nature lover VanDerwater opens her introduction with four lines that invite a young audience to join her explorations: "Every day we watch for birds / weaving through our sky. / We listen to their calls and songs. / We like to see them fly." She goes on to introduce 20 North American birds, representing common groups, with well-formed rhyming couplets. Each bird is presented on a single page along with one memorable characteristic: "NUTHATCH perches upside-down"; "GOOSE flies in a V." She's chosen birds preschoolers are likely to notice, birds they'll encounter outside their windows and in their yardschickadees, cardinals, and sparrowsand birds they might see on trips to parks and beacheshawks, herons, gulls. Throughout, and appropriately for her very young audience, she's used a single word to name the bird: jay for blue jay, finch for a goldfinch. Metrano's bold cut-paper illustrations show identifiable birds in appropriate poses against a clean, solid-color background, with just a hint of their likely habitat. This inviting introduction concludes with the poem as a whole and additional facts about each bird family next to thumbnail reproductions of each image. Beginning birding at its best, this pleasing presentation is ideal for families with preschoolers but would work well for storytime, too. (Informational picture book. 2-5) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
