PPBF: Bird Talk

Today's Perfect Picture Book Friday pick

 

Bird Talk: What Birds Are Saying and Why, by Lita Judge

Bird Talk:
What Birds Are Saying and Why

Written and illustrated by Lita Judge

Roaring Brook Press, 2012
Grades 1-4, 48 pp, Lexile 820


Themes:
Animals, Nonfiction


Opening:
"In backyards, forests, and meadows, the air is filled with bird talk. But what are they saying?"


Synopsis:

Really lovely illustrations showcase various birds and their forms of communication. Organized by purpose, the text is easy for kids to understand and relate to (yes relate to!) Introduces unusual birds and their unusual behaviors as well as ways in which birds squawk, call, and signal to each other—and why. Not fact-heavy, but filled with facts that will stick. Includes more detailed back matter.

What I Love:
I love Lita Judge's style of illustration. Her colors are soft. Her characters are fun to look at. They are biologically correct, but also take on personalities and expressions without being cartoony. I loved the word choices in this book. The text had a light tone which made the information easy to digest. Judge imagines what the birds are saying, "Look at me." "I'm the strongest." "Pick me." This approach makes readers think about the birds as thinking, living creatures.

 What impressed me the most was the way the information was organized. The flow from one bird to the next as well as the page layouts, kept me turning pages right to the end, and then back to the beginning for another go. The whole book seems effortless, like a walk in the forest with a fascinating guide, rather than a bookish collection of facts.


Bonus: 
1. Learn to identify birds' speech with helpful tips from Education.com  Then listen to bird calls with videos from Kiddopedia.

2. Cornell Lab of Ornithology offers downloadable lessons to identify bird sounds and their various functions.


Easy robin craft courtesy I Heart Crafty Things

3. Many zoos have Avian Houses. These environments provide a great opportunity to hear a variety of birds interacting and to observe their behaviors. Experts are often on hand to answer your questions. If you can't get to a local zoo, consider donating to help fund such places. Petcha has compiled a list of American aviaries. The Minnesota Zoo has recently opened a redesigned Tropical Rainforest and Aviary, or visit the rainforest at the San Francisco Zoo. Two of my favorite places are the National Aviary and the McNeil Avian Center at the Philadelphia Zoo.

4.North Carolina University offers an excellent guide to natural landscaping which will attract birds to your area and help them flourish.Then visit A Home For Wild Birds for seed and treat recipes.

5. Little Birdie Secrets has created edible bread stick birds which have to be seen to be believed. Or opt for the easy plum and pretzel bird from Canadian Family.

6. Check out these and more related Perfect Picture Books at your local library.



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Have you reviewed a Perfect Picture Book along this theme? Please leave the link in the comments below. Thanks!

Check out all the recommended titles for Perfect Picture Book Friday
for Friday, January 20, 2017 available on Susanna Leonard Hill's blog.