Customer Reviews

The Birdwatchers

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With evocative ink and watercolor drawings, all full-page, author-illustrator Simon James relates a touching story of the very special relationship between a little girl and her grandfather.

For sometime, Jess has been hearing stories from her grandfather about birdwatching. He says such intriguing things as "Jess, when I make drawings of the birds, sometimes they make drawings of me, too."

He says that birds help him find their names in his bird book, and that he gathered all the birds to make a "dawn chorus" for her.

The little girl can resist no longer. She goes birdwatching with her grandfather, but doesn't see anything at all. Furthermore, nothing happens - that is, until they reach the birdwatching hut.

Soon after that Jess has a "story" for him.

Sure to appeal to all youngsters who have the friendship of an older adult...

I got this book for my older son who loves all sorts of animals. He quite enjoyed it but I was quite surprised when my little 18 month baby wanted to read it too. True, she loves birds. She loves to go down to the park close to our house and feed `duckies'. When there are birds in our backyard she'll point through the back window at them, until I look, saying all the while, `bir, bir'. Just a couple of days ago she took the book out of our little-person's book section, walked over to my wife, took the book that she was reading out of her hands and put "Birdwatchers" into her hands. She then crawled up the couch and sat herself down in my wife's lap, waiting for her to start reading the story. My son liked the last page of the book, but my little girl will look on each page for any little birds that are there. It is quite a good book for any bird loving child's library or adult too for that matter.

"My granddad is a birdwatcher. He tells me birdwatching stories. He always says, "Jess, when I go birdwatching, things happen..." And our little narrator is intrigued with his tales. Sometimes, he tells her that when he makes drawings of the birds, they make drawings of him. The birds often help him find their names in his bird book, and they got all together early one morning and recorded the "dawn chorus." Granddad's stories are so fun and amazing that finally little Jess has to find out for herself. So one morning she goes birdwatching with her grandfather..... Simon James' gentle and engaging story is heartwarming, and complemented by playful and inviting illustrations is warm earthtones. Perfect for youngsters 4-8, The Birdwatchers is a captivating gem, with a humorous, surprise ending that you don't want to miss. Remember, when you go birdwatching, things happen...

The Birdwatchers is a delightful color picturebook written and illustrated by Simon James. It's the story of Jess, a young girl who discovers the joy of birdwatching with her grandfather. Showcasing simple, heartwarming caricature drawings, The Birdwatchers is about finding peace and happiness through sharing and observing the wonder of nature. The Birdwatchers would make a wonderful addition to any school or library picturebook collection for young readers.