By Will Hillenbrand
Published by Holiday House
Mom's Review
Starting with the end paper: awesome lineup of birds by size! In the back matter, Hillenbrand explains his illustrating technique and invites readers to try it out! And between the two, readers are offered a wealth of information about backyard and less commonly seen birds of North America. Two-page spreads showcase each of the birds; the lefthand pages feature an illustration of each bird alongside its measurements and habitat, while the righthand page addresses a high interest topic, like why robins are good at catching worms or why blue jays hide acorns. Explanatory text and captions for detail illustrations are accessible to a young audience without sacrificing detail or sounding patronizing. I can't tolerate writing that dumbs down content for kids, so you won't ever see a book like that on this blog. Hillenbrand assumes curiosity and intelligence on the part of the reader, engaging his audience in a topic it feels is of high interest to him - the enthusiasm for learning about the birds is contagious! Readers will close the book with a deeper appreciation for nature and the unique abilities of birds on this continent.
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