Happy First Day of Spring!! Spring is my favorite season because I love watching things come back to life. One sure sign of spring are the birds. Yesterday I saw a robin in our yard and this morning I was awoken to the quacking of the ducks. Sure signs spring is here!! In honor of the first day of spring I thought I would share the books that have been collecting on my review shelf about things that fly--birds and machines! I hope these will inspire you to get the kids outside and looking to the sky!!
Our first book is Birds and Their Feathers by Britta Teckentrup. This book focuses on what helps the birds fly--their feathers!! It explains all sorts of things from how feathers developed and evolved to how they are used. There is information about different types of feathers, wings and flying. It also talks about how feathers are used for protection and for looks. There is so much information in this book but it is easy to read with relatively short pages. It is recommended for grades 1 to 4.
I love the illustrations in this book as well. They are colorful and just beautiful. This book makes reading nonfiction fun!!
Our next book is Magnificent Birds by Narisa Togo. This beautiful book is recommended for grades 5 to 9. It shares information about fourteen specific birds. These birds include the emperor penguin, bald eagle, bar-tailed godwit, toco toucan and more. I am really excited for the toco toucan since this is the subject of Hazel's research project and the library system only has one book on them. The information on the birds is detailed and focuses on a few aspects of the bird. The artwork is amazing!!
I love how it gives the Latin name for each bird as well as where in the world they live. This book covers birds from all over the world. I also love that it focuses on one specific species of the bird like the Toco Toucan (the largest of all the toucans).
Our next book is a new one!! It is Owling: Enter the World of the Mysterious Birds of the Night by Mark Wilson. It seems like everyone is fascinated with owls. I know Hazel became more so with her love of Harry Potter. This new book shares every aspect of owls from where they live, how they raise their young to their bone structure and how they can turn their heads. It includes things you may never have thought about but will be eye-opening for you.
Do you love the book We're Going on a Bear Hunt? Did you know there is a series of books about exploring animals to go along with it? Today I am sharing We're Going on a Bear Hunt: Let's Discover Birds with text by Andrea Cascardi and additional wildlife illustrations by Mat Williams and line art by Susana Chapman. This book is meant to be a companion as you explore with your kids. It begins with the basics--what a bird is, the parts of a bird and other things about birds. Then it goes into specific types of birds that may be found around your house. It includes birds like sparrows, finches, and pigeons. There are then songbirds including starlings, swallows, thrush, robins and more. There are sections on water dwellers, birds of prey, and seaside birds too. Each section has crafts and activities as well as pages to add the stickers that come with the book to complete pictures.
This book is recommended for kindergarten to grade 3. It is the perfect book to use to encourage kid to explore outside or for a walk in a wildlife sanctuary. I love all the information and how it is presented to the early elementary aged child.
For the slightly older child we have Look Up! Bird-Watching in Your Own Backyard by Annette LeBlanc Cate. This book is for grades 3 to 7. It is a book designed to get kids outside and noticing the nature around them. It also suggests sketching the birds. This book goes through the steps to begin to notice the birds from seeing them and hearing them. Then it begins to talk about classifying them and where to get the information to do it.
This book has a graphic novel sense to parts of it which will help draw the age group in to read this book. I love how the book inspires them to get outside, observe nature and draw and enjoy. I also love that it points them in the direction of finding information and understanding it about the birds they may see. It also covers the variety of birds that may be found in the United States. So let's get this book out and turn off the technology and remember to encourage them to enjoy the outside world and our feathered friends. This book has a bonus section with different activities from setting up bird feeders to environments to help care for the birds as well.
Our final book is not about birds but machines--flying machines. Since they fly like birds I am adding it to this round-up. The book is Flying Machines by Ian Graham and illustrated by Stephen Biesty. This book starts with the first airplanes and goes through supersonic jets and space shuttles. It goes through the various parts of these machines and has flaps to read about the inside workings of the machines.
Since it has flaps that open it is a board book. It is full of facts and information and is recommended for Kindergarten through grade 3. There are several books in this series. I have had the pleasure of sharing one of the other ones here.
So if you are ready to get outside and look up, be sure to check out these great books that will teach you about flying creatures and machines. Enjoy!! Happy Spring!!
