Amazon.com: A Pair of Wings (9780823415472): Marilyn Singer, Anne Wertheim: Books

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Gr 3-5-A far-ranging and sweeping overview of various types of creatures with wings-including birds, insects, and mammals-and the myriad ways they use these versatile appendages. Singer goes beyond a description of the mechanics of flight to include how wings are also used by various creatures for balance, as a weapon, as a part of courting rituals, and to help hunters attract prey. The discussion then comes back around to flying, or rather to migration, which all of these animals do to find food and the right climate in which to live and breed. Unfortunately, covering such a wide spectrum of nature's winged creatures from as many different parts of the world makes for a superficial presentation. The artwork, created with brushed and airbrushed acrylics and colored pencil, is colorful and appealing but sometimes too cluttered to be informative. One double-page spread includes depictions of the wingspans of eagles, hawks, and vultures, in addition to swifts and swallows, the ability of hummingbirds to hover, and two Emperor penguins that use their flippers to propel them through the water. Not all of the flora and fauna are identified; some species are referred to by their general names. Singer concludes by stating that some of these animals are in danger because people fear them or don't understand their importance. She suggests that children can learn about them by direct observation or by reading. This book gives youngsters a fleeting glance instead of a good long look.

Luann Toth, School Library Journal

From Booklist

Gr. 2-3. The author of Bottoms Up! (1997) offers another wide-ranging survey of animal anatomy and behavior, discussing in clear, matter-of-fact prose the many uses to which birds, bats, and flying insects put their wings. Flying is only the beginning: honeybees fan their wings to control temperature and humidity in their hives; hoatzins have hooks on their wings that are handy for clambering about in treetops. Wings are also good for mimicry, making music, camouflage, and courtship display. Singer explains how the wings of dragonflies, for instance, differ in purpose from those of houseflies, and how owls' wings are different from those of swifts and ostriches. In precise, richly colored detail, Wertheim depicts a wide array of winged wildlife, sometimes in natural settings, sometimes as isolated specimens. Unobtrusive labels identify nearly every animal, as well as distinctive anatomical features, and well-chosen lists of Web sites and recent books bring up the rear, to provide young naturalists with further information about these versatile appendages. John Peters
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More About the Author

› Visit Amazon's Marilyn Singer Page

Marilyn Singer was born in the Bronx (New York City) on October 3, 1948 and lived most of her early life in N. Massapequa (Long Island), NY. She attended Queens College, City University of New York, and for her junior year, Reading University, England. She holds a B.A. in English from Queens and an M.A. in Communications from New York University.

In 1974, after teaching English in New York City high schools for several years, she began to write - initially film notes, catalogues, teacher's guides, and film strips. Then, one day, when she was sitting in the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, she penned a story featuring talking insect characters she'd made up when she was eight. Encouraged by the responses she got, she wrote more stories, and in 1976, her first book, The Dog Who Insisted He Wasn't, was published by E.P.Dutton & Co.

Since then, Marilyn has published over eighty books for children and young adults. Her genres are many and varied, including realistic novels, fantasies, non-fiction, fairy tales, picture books, mysteries and poetry. She likes writing many different kinds of books because it's challenging and it keeps her from getting bored.

Marilyn currently lives in Brooklyn, NY, with her husband Steve; their standard poodle Oggi, seen in the home page photo; a cat named August ; two collared doves named Jubilee and Holiday; and a starling that says, "Hi. How are you? Sweet Birdie. Okay!" Her interests include ballroom/Latin dancing, dog training, reading, hiking, bird-watching, gardening, playing computer adventure games, and going to the movies and the theatre. She's also a major Star Trek fan.

Marilyn is the former host of the AOL Children's Writers Chat and currently co-hosts the Poetry Blast at various conferences. Visit her web site: www.marilynsinger.net.