  | Full Text Reviews: Bulletin for the Center... - 03/01/2013 Let’s be honest: many kids will respond to the idea of bird-watching with a sardonic “You gotta be kidding.” And these are the very kids who stand to be pleasantly surprised by Cate’s humorous, informative invitation to the hobby and her low-pressure, common-sense approach. She begins with a bit of excellent advice: leave the electronic devices at home, grab some snacks, sunscreen, and a sketchpad (perhaps later the more ambitious addition of a field guide and binoculars), and start to look, really look. Cate then explains what exactly to look for in terms of bird behavior, size, shape, color, markings, etc. Each suggestion amounts to a baby step toward getting accustomed to observing these creatures. Only when the bird-watcher has gotten comfortable with the birds does the whole issue of identification—which is too often the frustrating lead-off activity in hobbyist books—get underway. The beauty of this approach is that kids can stop at almost any point along this journey and still derive considerable pleasure from the enterprise. Cate supplements her instructive and encouraging remarks with cartoon-style illustrations that include plenty of additional speech-balloon commentary from the birds themselves. Not everyone can pull off the kibitzing-animal shtick, but the avian chorus is genuinely funny, and their banter goes a long way toward driving the lessons home. Spring’s around the corner, and kids could do worse than park themselves on a fallen log—or even atop a gravestone—and see what they can see. EB - Copyright 2013 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois. Booklist - 02/01/2013 In this amiable guidebook that encourages readers to observe and wonder about the birds around them, Cate presents plenty of relevant information while sharing her clear enthusiasm for the subject. Accompanied with bright illustrations on every page, the text introduces topics such as birds’ distinctive colors, shapes, feathers, sounds, habitats, behavioral traits, migration, and classification. Cate is an artist who came to birding through sketching outdoors, and she creates a friendly, enthusiastic tone through her conversational writing style, accessible ink-and-watercolor artwork, and speech balloons that give individual birds and people an informative, fanciful, or amusing voice. While she recommends a number of field guides as additional resources, she suggests that readers consult them only after they have taken the time to become aware of the birds in their own neighborhoods. A relatively brief introduction to a broad field of study, this title will engage readers with its well-presented information spiced with visual and verbal humor. - Copyright 2013 Booklist. School Library Journal - 03/01/2013 Gr 3–5—With its emphasis on looking at the birds near home-from suburbs to inner cities-this invitation to bird-watching is an engaging addition to any collection. By grouping birds by colors, shapes, behaviors, feathers, calls, habitat, migration, and more, the spreads highlight the multitude of avian features to be observed. Cate emphasizes the importance of observation and includes sketching instructions as a way to hone those skills on the individual aspects of a bird along with its species' characteristics. Each page is filled with full-color illustrations. At first glance they may appear crowded and busy, but the detailed drawings are charming, lively, and fun. Humorous dialogue bubbles feature bird "thoughts" in accessible language. Comic human observations are also included: "Are those pesky birds pooping on my windowsill again?" Lots of fun-and informative.—Frances E. Millhouser, formerly at Chantilly Regional Library, Fairfax County, VA - Copyright 2013 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission. Loading...
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