EVEN AN OSTRICH NEEDS A NEST
Where Birds Begin
by Irene Kelly and illustrated by Irene Kelly
From the North American bald eagle to the Australian brush-turkey, the nesting habits of 40 different birds are briefly explored. Kelly’s conversational style conveys the breadth of these often-unusual habitats, noting the nests’ various materials and the methods used to support baby birds. Engaging facts support the broad subject matter: The sociable weaver, for instance, may live with more than 200 others in a nest that can last as long as 100 years. The industrious layout of this eclectic collection encourages browsing. A wavy typeface (endearingly called “Lizard”) and solid lines integrated within these busy double-page spreads serve to organize the layout. Mixed-media illustrations convey the diversity among these feathered flocks; watercolors, gouache, acrylics and pen-and-ink utilize texture and soft colors to capture their subjects. A map highlights each bird’s locale, and a concluding activity encourages young scientists to observe and assist birds in their natural environments. Though the addition of source notes and an index would aid the budding researcher, this offering will intrigue many young ornithologists. (Informational picture book. 5-9)