Arrowhawk (Outstanding Science Trade Books for Students K-12) [Hardcover]

Lola M. Schaefer (Illustrator), Gabi Swiatkowska (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up | Series: Outstanding Science Trade Books for Students K-12

Familiar hands tossed him gently into the winter air. Hawk flapped his wings and skimmed the earth. Then he beat his wings harder, rose, and flew over the trees. And straight as an arrow, Hawk soared into the wild.

The story of an injured red-tailed hawk's survival and freedom

A hungry red-tailed hawk sits near a fence post and devours his catch. Out of nowhere a poacher's arrow pierces his body, seriously injuring him and leaving him to fend for himself.

This is the courageous true story of Arrowhawk-an endangered bird of prey who, with sheer determination and will, survives eight weeks in the wild with a poacher's arrow through his thigh and tail. Stunning illustrations capture his remarkable journey from peril and rescue to eventual freedom.

 

Arrowhawk is a 2005 Bank Street - Best Children's Book of the Year.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Gr. 2-3, younger for reading aloud. In 1997, a young red-tailed hawk was hit by a poacher's arrow, survived for some time, was captured, cared for, and released in the Midwest. Schaefer, whose fourth-graders followed the news stories about the hawk, has turned this event into a picture book for older readers. By taking the point of view of the hawk, she has anthropomorphized the raptor in ways that sometimes seem stilted. Children may be mesmerized, though, by the hawk's efforts to fly, and to capture prey and feed, with an arrow piercing its thigh and tail. The capture and healing of the bird are handled gently, and the story ends with its release to the wild. Swiatkowska's rich acrylics have beautiful soft edges and fine detail, demonstrating the hawk in many guises as it struggles to do what a raptor's gotta do despite the protruding arrow. The photograph of Arrowhawk at the end shows how elegantly the artist captured the contours and coloration of the hawk. GraceAnne DeCandido
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review

"Based on a true story and told in unemotional prose illustrated with beautiful, airy acrylic paintings, this will instill appreciation for the beauty of birds of prey and their role in nature." --Kirkus Reviews, starred

"Arrowhawk is a dramatic, painful tale of nature with a fortunate upbeat ending." --Sacramento Bee

"Swiatkowska's rich acrylics have beautiful soft edges and fine detail."--Booklist

"Schaefer does this the hard and admirable way. She tells it from the point of view of the bird with no cheap tricks. No anthropomorphism. No bird-with-human-feelings. . . .Arrowhawk is simply a dignified and powerful creature." --San Diego Union Tribune

"Throughout the illustrations, as in the text, Hawk's wild and defiant persona dominates, neither softened nor anthropomorphized. The result is a tale of courage and compassion, made compelling by its narrow focus." --Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR); First Edition edition (May 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0805063714
• ISBN-13: 978-0805063714
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 8.8 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #650,098 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful book -- touching true story, June 4, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Arrowhawk (Outstanding Science Trade Books for Students K-12) (Hardcover)

This is a beautiful book. The true story of this magnificent bird's struggle to survive will touch the hearts of children and adults who are nature lovers. Great artwork!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Touching story with a good lesson, July 4, 2006

By 

whiteword - See all my reviews

This review is from: Arrowhawk (Outstanding Science Trade Books for Students K-12) (Hardcover)

My son and I enjoyed this book tremendously. He has read it on his own quite a few times but the effect is so different when we read it together. The story is touching and at one point, I could see my son winced in pain (the part when the hawk was shot). He felt really sorry for it and was so delighted to know that it is alive and well again. Great story, good lessons within.