A dramatic depiction of a remarkable avian accomplishment.
Migrating south with her sisters, a whimbrel is caught in a hurricane but eventually battles her way to warm winter safety.
This imagined journey is loosely based on the real experience of a whimbrel fitted with a solar-powered transmitter who traveled from the Arctic coast in Canada’s Northwest Territories to St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands in 2011, at one point flying nonstop 27 hours through a tropical storm. (This story is related in an author’s note.) Wildlife photographer Halliday has used a combination of traditional and digital media to create striking, allusive images, many of them dark double-page spreads in which spots and streaks emphasize the power of the storm and the viewpoint twists and turns. Like many bird migrations, most of this tale happens at night. At dawn the whimbrel starts off again. Color and light return, and by sunset she reaches the tropics, where she faces new dangers before reuniting with her sisters. The author/illustrator has added details, including the bird’s nestmates and a pause on a city windowsill where sympathetic hands offer her a restorative plate of small fish, but on the whole the saga rings true. Naming her protagonist Numenia, from the bird’s Latin name, Numenius phaeopus, the writer crafts her story as a ballad, with carefully chosen words and plenty of alliteration. It would make a suspenseful storytime read-aloud. Pair with Nancy Carol Willis’ more informational Red Knot (2006).
A dramatic depiction of a remarkable avian accomplishment. (bibliography) (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Jan. 21, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-62414-999-3
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Page Street
Review Posted Online: Aug. 27, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2019
A good bet for the youngest bird-watchers.
Echoing the meter of “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” Ward uses catchy original rhymes to describe the variety of nests birds create.
Each sweet stanza is complemented by a factual, engaging description of the nesting habits of each bird. Some of the notes are intriguing, such as the fact that the hummingbird uses flexible spider web to construct its cup-shaped nest so the nest will stretch as the chicks grow. An especially endearing nesting behavior is that of the emperor penguin, who, with unbelievable patience, incubates the egg between his tummy and his feet for up to 60 days. The author clearly feels a mission to impart her extensive knowledge of birds and bird behavior to the very young, and she’s found an appealing and attractive way to accomplish this. The simple rhymes on the left page of each spread, written from the young bird’s perspective, will appeal to younger children, and the notes on the right-hand page of each spread provide more complex factual information that will help parents answer further questions and satisfy the curiosity of older children. Jenkins’ accomplished collage illustrations of common bird species—woodpecker, hummingbird, cowbird, emperor penguin, eagle, owl, wren—as well as exotics, such as flamingoes and hornbills, are characteristically naturalistic and accurate in detail.
A good bet for the youngest bird-watchers. (author’s note, further resources) (Informational picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: March 18, 2014
ISBN: 978-1-4424-2116-5
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Beach Lane/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Jan. 3, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2014
A friendship tale with solid messaging and plenty of fun sounds to share.
In this latest in the series, Little Blue Truck, driven by pal Toad, is challenged to a countryside race by Racer Red, a sleek, low-slung vehicle.
Blue agrees, and the race is on. Although the two start off “hood to hood / and wheel to wheel,” they switch positions often as they speed their way over dusty country roads. Blue’s farm friends follow along to share in the excitement and shout out encouragement; adult readers will have fun voicing the various animal sounds. Short rhyming verses on each page and several strategic page turns add drama to the narrative, but soft, mottled effects in the otherwise colorful illustrations keep the competition from becoming too intense. Racer Red crosses the finish line first, but Blue is a gracious loser, happy to have worked hard. That’s a new concept for Racer Red, who’s laser-focused on victory but takes Blue’s words (“win or lose, it’s fun to try!”) to heart—a revelation that may lead to worthwhile storytime discussions. When Blue’s farm animal friends hop into the truck for the ride home, Racer Red tags along and learns a second lesson, one about speed. “Fast is fun, / and slow is too, / as long as you’re / with friends.”
A friendship tale with solid messaging and plenty of fun sounds to share. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: March 25, 2025
ISBN: 9780063387843
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Clarion/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Jan. 18, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2025
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