We are starlings : inside the mesmerizing magic of a murmuration Author: Furrow, Robert | ||
Price: $23.78 |
Summary:
Young nature lovers learn about starlings and the fascinating phenomenon of murmurations.
Added Entry - Personal Name: | Napoli, Donna Jo |
Illustrator: | Martin, Marc |
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (03/15/23)
School Library Journal (+) (04/01/23)
Booklist (05/15/23)
The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (00/05/23)
The Hornbook (+) (00/07/23)
Full Text Reviews:
Booklist - 05/15/2023 A restless pair of speckled starlings meets up with a handful of other birds and flies on, gradually combining with other flocks until the pages fill with black dots nearly covering the sky. They have become a murmuration—a term coined from the sound of thousands of flapping birds overhead. The enormous gathering twists and turns, pitch black in the center of the congregation and lighter at the edges. A menacing falcon, overwhelmed by the ever-shifting mass of birds, gives up trying to pinpoint any of the thousands of moving targets. And just like that, the flock drops to the ground to rest and gather strength for their next flight. The poetic text may be light on facts, but it’s lovely in its lyricism. Stunning multimedia drawings glow on the page, saturated in the colors of sunrise and sunset. There is an exquisite sense of movement and scale as the dazzling murmurations seem to dance across the spreads. A gorgeous introduction to a natural wonder. - Copyright 2023 Booklist.
School Library Journal - 04/01/2023 Gr 1–4—A stellar narrative nonfiction book about the collective of starlings and their migration. The book opens on a close-up of two starlings; with every spread the number of starlings increases, giving readers the sense and visual depth of the group, which can grow into the thousands and even into the millions. The text poetically describes how the murmuration can be supportive, an alliance, and a defense against predators, while the scenes support this thrillingly. Every digital watercolor lends movement and poignancy to the text. A great read-aloud to share with a group and a great introduction to starlings, Furrow and Napoli's book would make a grand companion to Vulture View by April Pulley Sayre. VERDICT This book answers so many questions about the formations starlings create against the sky without taking away the wonder. It's stunning.—Ruth Guerrier-Pierre - Copyright 2023 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.