Blue Sky Bluebird [Hardcover]

Rick Chrustowski (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up

One spring day when the ground is a carpet of green, a pair of bluebirds arrives at their summer home. Inside their nest box the female weaves layers of coarse grass into a circle. Then she presses her body into the middle to make a cup.

A season in the life of a bluebird family

In a cozy nest of grass a female bluebird lays her eggs, blue as the summer sky. When they hatch, there are four tiny chicks to feed. From morning to night, the parent birds hunt for tasty insects to give to their hungry brood.
The chicks grow quickly, and within a few weeks they have enough feathers to learn to fly. At first their wings are shaky and unsure, but soon the fledglings are fast enough to catch their own meals. Now the nearly grown chicks can help their parents raise a new brood of hungry babies-before the cold winter drives the family south.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 2-4-An introduction to the life cycle of the bluebird from spring mating, nest building, and egg laying to the southward migration in fall. The brief, readable text is so interesting and informative that it will easily hold the attention of children not yet capable of reading it on their own. Adult bluebirds raise two families each year-in spring and in late summer. Once the fledglings from the first brood have learned to fly and to hunt their own food, they help the parents to raise their younger siblings; then they all fly south together. Using layer upon layer of colored pencil over watercolor wash, Chrustowski shows each step in the cycle in bold, vividly colored illustrations so finely detailed that the softness of the birds' downy heads and breasts is clearly visible. Proper terminology (embryo, nestling, fledgling, clutch) is included within the text; stages of development from yolk sac to embryo to chick are shown and briefly described. A final page of notes provides further information. Although no sources are listed, this finely crafted presentation of fact and artwork exemplifies the best in informational literature.-Susan Scheps, Shaker Heights Public Library, OH
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Gr. 1-3. This colorful book offers children a close-up look at bluebirds and their young. In the spring, a mated pair weaves a nest in a birdhouse. The female lays four eggs, the chicks hatch, and the nestlings grow. First leaving their house for short flights, they gradually learn to live on their own. A sidebar called "Peek Inside an Egg" shows three stages of embryonic development and explains what is actually happening at each stage. The large-scale, colored pencil drawings with watercolor washes will draw children to the book and help them visualize a bird that most have never seen. Chrustowski, the author-illustrator of Bright Beetle (2000), shows a fine-tuned sense of what interests children, the ability to express it in simple words, and a talent for illustrating animals in a way that is both accurate and appealing. The book's last page comments on the comeback of bluebirds after the construction of nest boxes and the three types of bluebirds found in North America. Carolyn Phelan
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR); 1st edition (April 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0805071040
• ISBN-13: 978-0805071047
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 9.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #290,505 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful (and educational) story about bluebirds, June 22, 2004

By 

Karen Woodworth Roman "Happy Librarian" (DeKalb, IL) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Blue Sky Bluebird (Hardcover)

Blue Sky Bluebird, told as a story, describes the lifecycle of bluebirds. Starting with a pair of bluebirds, describes how they build their nest, how the eggs develop and hatch, and how they grow. Mentions migration and shows the three types of bluebirds found in North America. Chrustowski skillfully includes basic zoological information and precise terminology within story (except for the peek inside the egg section, which is outside of the main story). A note at the end mentions the decline and recent resurgence in the number of bluebirds and the increasing number of nest boxes. The illustrations are warm, colorful, and detailed. Karen Woodworth-Roman, Children's Science Book Review

5.0 out of 5 stars Children, May 5, 2011

By 

Ronda - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Blue Sky Bluebird (Hardcover)

This is an excellent book for children of all ages. The author's illustrations are excellent and bring nature into your home and reading pleasure. You will enjoy reading it together with a child or grandchild. We found that we built bluebird houses after reading this book and have had bluebirds come to live at our property.

5.0 out of 5 stars Fabulous book, great author, November 29, 2008

By 

KKD "KKD" (Saint Paul, MN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Blue Sky Bluebird (Hardcover)

We were first introduced to Rick Chrustowski through our school - who hosted him to come and talk to the kids about being an author and how he writes and illustrates. He is an energic guy who clearly loves his work - and it is reflected in his detailed, lifelike drawings as well as his intelligent yet easily understandable and educational writing. We couldn't say enough good things about Mr. Chrustowski and his works!!