Written by Taunya English
Illustrated by Raissa Figueroa
Published by Harper
Mom's Review
Honeybird Blue features a father-daughter birdwatching duo. Young Honeybird identifies the birds she sees by color, and her goal is to see Blue - a great blue heron. Readers accompany the pair through the forest, enjoying the flora and fauna and the search for each bird, saying, "Tick," with each new bird species. (Very helpful back matter explains birding practices for the uninitiated like me.) There are two aspects of this picture books that I particularly appreciate. First, an activity I haven't seen much in children's literature is spotlighted. Birdwatching is a well-known outdoor pastime, but in my experience doesn't get fiction picture books as frequently as sports and playground problems (though I've come across new kids' birding guides with greater frequency in the past year). I love books that encourage kids to get outside and bolster their relationship with nature without being preachy, and Honeybird Blue does that beautifully by showing the ups and downs of birdwatching. The second point that sets Honeybird Blue apart is the relationship between dad and daughter. The two have a healthy activity they enjoy together that challenges each and brings them closer to the birdwatching community. When the daughter is disappointed that she is not seeing what she is looking for, the dad helps her manage that disappointment - English and Figueroa use text and illustration to model what navigating challenges should look like in a healthy and mutually respectful relationship.
A win for birders, dads, and daughters!
Comments
Post a Comment