From School Library Journal
Kindergarten-Grade 3-Full-page, exquisitely detailed, realistic watercolors in richly tinted hues, each showing a particular species of bird in its natural habitat, are the real highlight of this very simple, poetically written introductory piece. Each five-line verse appears on a white page below a painting of an egg-filled nest. On the opposite page is an in situ illustration to which it relates. For example, "Birds build nests, Eggs deep inside, Secret spaces Where fledgelings hide. That's how birds build their nests" appears below a picture of a nest holding four blue eggs that is woven of various grasses and bound to thick plant stems. On the illustration opposite the text, a red-winged blackbird stands above its nest, which is hidden among tall grasses, a newly hatched open-mouthed baby in the nest, and a fluffy brown-and-white striped youngster perched on the edge of it. Of the 15 species shown, 7 are native to Australia (the author's home), 4 to Asia and Africa, and just 2 to the U.S. Two species can be found worldwide. A nest identification guide on the final two pages gives the species name in English and Latin, a description of the nest and its location, and a small reproduction of a nest with eggs as it appears within the book. Adults and children who love nature will be attracted to the illustrations (including the lovely cover) and intrigued by the variety of constructions and locations found within.
Susan Scheps, Shaker Heights Public Library, OH Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.
--This text refers to the
Paperback
edition.
Ages 4-8. Winer offers another appealing nature title for the very young in this poetic introduction to birds' nesting habits. Each spread features a brief poem about the places where various species nest--in logs, among the lily pads, on beach cliffs, capping chimneys. The common refrain "birds build nests" helps create an enticing, rolling rhythm that will draw young ones into the simply phrased lyrical text. Oliver's beautiful, highly detailed paintings show species and their nests in near-photographic detail. Older readers and avid nature observers will enjoy the nest identification guide at book's end, and teachers will find the appended suggested reading and Web resources useful. Gorgeous to look at and lovely to listen to, this is a great read-aloud choice for teachers looking for ways to incorporate poetry into the science curriculum.
Gillian EngbergCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
See all 6 books this book cites
