ABOUT PARROTS

A vibrant variety of parrots is portrayed in clear, vivid watercolor illustrations with a simple text describing physical characteristics and habits.

Each full-color plate shows one or two parrot species in the appropriate habitat in flight, feeding or nesting. The paintings occupy the right of each two-page opening, with a single sentence on the left side pitched for very young readers and listeners. More information appears in the brief but rich backmatter paragraphs, with one paragraph per plate. The text could have been further enriched with maps and size charts: “Some parrots are big. Others are small.” The contrasting sizes of the hyacinth macaws and buff-faced pygmy parrots that appear in the accompanying picture are mentioned in the backmatter—but a young audience might want to know the relative sizes of others. Too, a visual guide to the locations of parrot species might help readers who are wondering how close a parrot habitat might be found. Readers encountering this book on its own will learn that parrots are birds but will need to know that birds have feathers and lay eggs—neither is specifically addressed. While vocalizations are mentioned, readers wanting to know which ones can “talk” with humans will be disappointed.

Overall, though, this is a uniquely attractive work with which to round out the bird section, and it is overall an appealing and comprehensive introduction.