An educational, easy-to-use resource for budding naturalists.
A colorful guide to birdwatching in the United States for children.
Bird calls are often the first thing a person will hear when they step outside; even if the birds are not visible, it’s probable that there are hundreds of different species living in the trees and bushes in any neighborhood. Kids who are curious about those birds and would like to identify them can refer to Johnson’s picture book, a guide to finding different avian species with common tools they will likely have readily at hand, including their eyes and ears, coloring supplies for notes and drawings, and, of course, a pair of binoculars. After reading through a glossary of ornithology terms to familiarize themselves with physical traits and common bird behaviors, readers can delve into the profiles of various specific birds. There are over 23 species listed, from the American crow to the white-breasted nuthatch; the guide dedicates two-page spreads to each, with one page featuring a full-color picture photo of the bird and the other providing facts such as the name of the species, what birds of that type look and sound like, their favorite food, and where they can be spotted during certain seasons. Additionally, the author provides some “Birding Tips,” simple activities to lure birds to the yard for observation. With this information at their fingertips, any child can identify the winged creatures living in their neighborhood and work toward becoming a “Junior Backyard Ornithologist.” Johnson’s second edition of this birding guide is filled with her gorgeous photographs and packed with practical exercises that encourage children to take an interest in their surroundings using everyday resources that are available at home. Data is explained in scientific terms but packaged in a way that is relatable to children—for example, readers learn that a black-capped chickadee (which is “comfortable around people”) is normally five inches in height, or the size of a pen, and weighs 0.4 ounces, or as much as ten jellybeans.
An educational, easy-to-use resource for budding naturalists.Pub Date: March 15, 2021
ISBN: 9781735324210
Page Count: 56
Publisher: Bird Nerd Publishing
Review Posted Online: Jan. 9, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2025
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
A good introduction to observation, data, and trying again.
Cece loves asking “why” and “what if.”
Her parents encourage her, as does her science teacher, Ms. Curie (a wink to adult readers). When Cece and her best friend, Isaac, pair up for a science project, they choose zoology, brainstorming questions they might research. They decide to investigate whether dogs eat vegetables, using Cece’s schnauzer, Einstein, and the next day they head to Cece’s lab (inside her treehouse). Wearing white lab coats, the two observe their subject and then offer him different kinds of vegetables, alone and with toppings. Cece is discouraged when Einstein won’t eat them. She complains to her parents, “Maybe I’m not a real scientist after all….Our project was boring.” Just then, Einstein sniffs Cece’s dessert, leading her to try a new way to get Einstein to eat vegetables. Cece learns that “real scientists have fun finding answers too.” Harrison’s clean, bright illustrations add expression and personality to the story. Science report inserts are reminiscent of The Magic Schoolbus books, with less detail. Biracial Cece is a brown, freckled girl with curly hair; her father is white, and her mother has brown skin and long, black hair; Isaac and Ms. Curie both have pale skin and dark hair. While the book doesn’t pack a particularly strong emotional or educational punch, this endearing protagonist earns a place on the children’s STEM shelf.
A good introduction to observation, data, and trying again. (glossary) (Picture book. 5-8)Pub Date: June 19, 2018
ISBN: 978-0-06-249960-8
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Review Posted Online: March 26, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2018
A well-meaning but lackluster tribute.
Readers bid farewell to a beloved canine character.
Momo is—or was—an adorable and very photogenic border collie owned by author Knapp. The many readers who loved him in the previous half-dozen books are in for a shock with this one. “Momo had died” is the stark reality—and there are no photographs of him here. Instead, Momo has been replaced by a flat cartoonish pastiche with strange, staring round white eyes, inserted into some of Knapp’s photography (which remains appealing, insofar as it can be discerned under the mixed media). Previous books contained few or no words. Unfortunately, virtuosity behind a lens does not guarantee mastery of verse. The art here is accompanied by words that sometimes rhyme but never find a workable or predictable rhythm (“We’d fetch and we’d catch, / we’d run and we’d jump. Every day we found new / games to play”). It’s a pity, because the subject—a pet’s death—is an important one to address with children. Of course, Momo isn’t gone; he can still be found “everywhere” in memories. But alas, he can be found here only in the crude depictions of the darling dog so well known from the earlier books.
A well-meaning but lackluster tribute. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Feb. 6, 2024
ISBN: 9781683693864
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Quirk Books
Review Posted Online: Nov. 4, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2023
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