friday's five, bird fever

I could sit and watch my bird feeder all day. Seriously. I may only see the common visitors like cardinals, tufted titmouses, house sparrows, house finches, and about a million grackles, but I'm fascinated by every single bird that swoops down. (I'm less than pleased about the squirrels that eat more than their share, but that's for a different themed entry!) This week, I'm thrilled to share a handful of picture books that focus on encouraging young children to be observant, informed, and appreciative of their feathered neighbors.

Let's get to the books and then spend some time with the littles in your life watching for the birds!

1. Bird Watch written and illustrated by Christie Matheson

Right off the bat, I loved this book. The first set of endpages shows realistic illustrations of common backyard birds such as bluebirds, doves, and wrens, and I was excited to see what more this picture book held. I was absolutely not disappointed. The title is spot-on, because this is a narrative adventure in bird watching, perfect for even the youngest readers who will excitedly point out the birds hidden in the trees in the gorgeous watercolor illustrations. Part counting book, part nature book, 100% awesome.

2. The Triumphant Tale of the House Sparrow written and illustrated by Jan Thornhill

This picture book tells the story of one of the most common backyard birds around, one that I think is adorable, but that I've learned is so maligned in the birding community. While I think it's a little cutie, I really knew nothing about it other than it's not native to the U.S. Well, #themoreyouknow is in full effect here, because this book taught me a TON about this wee species and its perseverance. There is so much information here that it makes for a fantastic read for older pic book readers, and it's a wonderful resource book for a classroom of kids any age.

3. Birds and Their Feathers written and illustrated by Britta Teckentrup

This is not your traditional picture book, but rather an almost-90 page incredible resource of information about a wide variety of birds, including answers to questions that kids likely have about birds, such as how many feathers can a bird have? I reviewed this book on 5M4B last year, and this book sat on my living room coffee table for many months because I adore picking it up and opening it to a random page for the amazing artwork and to be reminded of bird facts. I wouldn't hesitate to have this book in a preschool classroom, even though it won't be read cover to cover, it is so inviting and lovely that I know even young children would love to flip through its pages.

4. Fly with Me: A Celebration of Birds through Pictures, Poems, and Stories by Jane Yolen, Heidi E. Y. Stemple, Adam Stemple, and Jason Stemple

The title says it all about the content of this book, but be prepared to be WOWED by those pictures, poems, and stories. I adore this collection for its variety and wealth of info, and especially for its encouragement to kids to become 'citizen scientists' and participate in activities like the The Great Backyard Bird Count and other such observation and information sharing events. I reviewed this one on 5M4B last year, as well, and it's a beloved item in my personal 'nature library.' Another fantastic classroom resource!

5. Ruby's Birds written by Mya Thompson and illustrated by Claudia Dávila

Sometimes it goes like this: I'm on Amazon getting images and link codes for the books I've got piled up next to me and a book cover catches my eye on the page. I click over to that title's page, and even though I've yet to read it myself, I can't help but share it here because it seems to fit so perfectly. First, I check for it in my library system, but if it doesn't show up in the collection, maybe I suggest it for purchase! In this case, all of those were experienced, and I hope to see the book on the library shelf in a month or so! From the description of this book, and the fact that it is from the Cornell Lab Publishing Group, I'm confident that it is a book I'll want to own. I'd encourage my teacher friends to look for this one, just published last month, especially for those teaching in urban areas since this focuses on urban bird watching. I can't wait to see it!

Okay, off to watch my feeders again. Keeping my fingers crossed for the arrival of our hummingbirds any day now!