From Publishers Weekly
Stretching its tiny wings, a hummingbird wakes to a new day's warmth. As he darts around the sunlight, his throat flashes iridescent colors. In Lopez and Ryder's careful observation, the frenetic bird slows down enough for readers to track his feeding, sleeping, mating and nesting habits. "Dancing in the brightness, / hummingbird dips down/ where silken webs dangle, / trapping tiny flyers. / Quickly he plucks a web, / stealing his breakfast from spider." Expressive and elegant, the poetic language is perfectly matched by exquisite, detailed watercolors rimmed in gold. Through an adult's empathetic reading aloud, such refinement may captivate sensitive youngsters. But other beginning readers may find this lingering and placid contemplation ill-suited to the spirited aeronaut, which flies backward, sideways and upside down and screeches to a halted suspension with wings blurring like the blades of a fan. Still, the book admirably delineates the grace and delicacy of this diminutive marvel of nature. Ages 5-9.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From School Library Journal
PreSchool-Grade 3-- The ``dancers'' described here are Allen's hummingbirds as seen in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park. Ryder's text is minimal, yet the brief, rhythmic phrases capture the essence of her small, lively subjects as she describes a day in their lives. The concluding ``Author's Note'' fills in additional facts about the birds (including ways for readers to attract them to their own yards and gardens). Much of the information is valid for other species of hummingbirds as well. Lopez's watercolors depict both the grace and the toughness of the tiny creature. The use of double-page spreads enhances the sense of motion that is so well conveyed in the narrative. The bird's swift darting flight and nearly invisible wingbeats are cleverly shown through many poses, as if in time-lapse photos. Although balanced and slightly stylized, the artwork accurately reflects the imperfections in nature as well as its beauty. The book is a visual treat that can be enjoyed both as a picture book and read-aloud, and as a source of information. The author's ``Acknowledgements'' on the verso of the title page also functions as a short bibliography.
- Ruth S. Vose, San Francisco Public LibraryCopyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
