A BEACH FOR THE BIRDS

In Kennebunk, Maine, endangered least terns find sanctuary on a beach where they can nest undisturbed by nearby vacationers. Since terns must keep their eggs cool by shielding them on hot days, privacy is essential to their survival. McMillan, best known for his award-winning concept books, includes dozens of such fascinating facts as he describes the characteristics and behavior of this graceful sea bird, skillfully relating them to his audience (with unobtrusive comparisons to children playing on the adjacent beach) and providing beautifully composed color photos—as many as four, harmoniously deployed, on each spread- -for an evocative visual complement to the informative text. Specific, admirably detailed, lucid, well organized, inspiring: natural history at its best. A handy page of ``Least Tern Facts'' sums up statistics, range, etc.; glossary; bibliography; index. (Nonfiction. 5+)