Flights of Fancy

September 15, 2008
Tate says that what he has tried to do is select the stories that have most intrigued him in the course of a lifetimes study, and he posits that he is fascinated by stories that recur in different traditions. He points out that many of the stories probably were told originally just for fun; some, no doubt, were old wives tales told to scare or instruct children. Tate tells stories about 30 species of birdsfrom blackbirds to wrynecksand each includes a line drawing and information on its song and diet. This attractive guide will intrigue bird-watchers and nature lovers.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2008, American Library Association.)