An educational, easy-to-use resource for budding naturalists.
A colorful guide to birdwatching in the United States for children.
Bird calls are often the first thing a person will hear when they step outside; even if the birds are not visible, it’s probable that there are hundreds of different species living in the trees and bushes in any neighborhood. Kids who are curious about those birds and would like to identify them can refer to Johnson’s picture book, a guide to finding different avian species with common tools they will likely have readily at hand, including their eyes and ears, coloring supplies for notes and drawings, and, of course, a pair of binoculars. After reading through a glossary of ornithology terms to familiarize themselves with physical traits and common bird behaviors, readers can delve into the profiles of various specific birds. There are over 23 species listed, from the American crow to the white-breasted nuthatch; the guide dedicates two-page spreads to each, with one page featuring a full-color picture photo of the bird and the other providing facts such as the name of the species, what birds of that type look and sound like, their favorite food, and where they can be spotted during certain seasons. Additionally, the author provides some “Birding Tips,” simple activities to lure birds to the yard for observation. With this information at their fingertips, any child can identify the winged creatures living in their neighborhood and work toward becoming a “Junior Backyard Ornithologist.” Johnson’s second edition of this birding guide is filled with her gorgeous photographs and packed with practical exercises that encourage children to take an interest in their surroundings using everyday resources that are available at home. Data is explained in scientific terms but packaged in a way that is relatable to children—for example, readers learn that a black-capped chickadee (which is “comfortable around people”) is normally five inches in height, or the size of a pen, and weighs 0.4 ounces, or as much as ten jellybeans.
An educational, easy-to-use resource for budding naturalists.Pub Date: March 15, 2021
ISBN: 9781735324210
Page Count: 56
Publisher: Bird Nerd Publishing
Review Posted Online: Jan. 9, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2025
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
A well-meaning but lackluster tribute.
Readers bid farewell to a beloved canine character.
Momo is—or was—an adorable and very photogenic border collie owned by author Knapp. The many readers who loved him in the previous half-dozen books are in for a shock with this one. “Momo had died” is the stark reality—and there are no photographs of him here. Instead, Momo has been replaced by a flat cartoonish pastiche with strange, staring round white eyes, inserted into some of Knapp’s photography (which remains appealing, insofar as it can be discerned under the mixed media). Previous books contained few or no words. Unfortunately, virtuosity behind a lens does not guarantee mastery of verse. The art here is accompanied by words that sometimes rhyme but never find a workable or predictable rhythm (“We’d fetch and we’d catch, / we’d run and we’d jump. Every day we found new / games to play”). It’s a pity, because the subject—a pet’s death—is an important one to address with children. Of course, Momo isn’t gone; he can still be found “everywhere” in memories. But alas, he can be found here only in the crude depictions of the darling dog so well known from the earlier books.
A well-meaning but lackluster tribute. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Feb. 6, 2024
ISBN: 9781683693864
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Quirk Books
Review Posted Online: Nov. 4, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2023
BOOK REVIEW
Another playful imagination-stretcher.
Markle invites children to picture themselves living in the homes of 11 wild animals.
As in previous entries in the series, McWilliam’s illustrations of a diverse cast of young people fancifully imitating wild creatures are paired with close-up photos of each animal in a like natural setting. The left side of one spread includes a photo of a black bear nestling in a cozy winter den, while the right side features an image of a human one cuddled up with a bear. On another spread, opposite a photo of honeybees tending to newly hatched offspring, a human “larva” lounges at ease in a honeycomb cell, game controller in hand, as insect attendants dish up goodies. A child with an eye patch reclines on an orb weaver spider’s web, while another wearing a head scarf constructs a castle in a subterranean chamber with help from mound-building termites. Markle adds simple remarks about each type of den, nest, or burrow and basic facts about its typical residents, then closes with a reassuring reminder to readers that they don’t have to live as animals do, because they will “always live where people live.” A select gallery of traditional homes, from igloo and yurt to mudhif, follows a final view of the young cast waving from a variety of differently styled windows.
Another playful imagination-stretcher. (Informational picture book. 6-8)Pub Date: May 7, 2024
ISBN: 9781339049052
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Scholastic
Review Posted Online: Feb. 3, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2024
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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