THE ROBIN MAKES A LAUGHING SOUND

Longtime bird enthusiast Wolf observes, sketches, paints and writes poems about the robins, juncos, wrens and cardinals that venture near her Illinois home. Here, bits of her original birder’s journal are digitally manipulated with simulated torn pieces of paper and adhesive tape to create a clean, inviting scrapbook look. A spread entitled “Spring” features a list of species spotted, a lovely watercolor-and-ink sketch of a crocus, a list of warbler characteristics and a haiku about brown creepers. Thoughtful questions (“February 19—Where do birds sleep at night?”) and brief cursive notes (“May 2—The black cap sits on its head like a black beret”) pepper the pages, and the winsome poems range from nursery-rhyme style (“Flippy-floppy, splishy-sploshy— / robins take a bath. / One bird, two birds, three birds, four— / it’s crowded. Splishy-splash!”) to more matter-of-fact free-verse observations of bird behavior. The journal’s most charming aspects, however, are the artful sketches and watercolor paintings—and the endearingly childlike sense of wonder reflected throughout. (author’s note, birding resources) (Poetry/nonfiction. 5-9)