Hawks Kettle, Puffins Wheel

June 17, 2019
“Hawks kettle, crows mob, puffins wheel, gannets dive.” Centered on the peculiar and charming verbs describing specific patterns and types of bird flight, this book pairs poetry and prose to explore the aerial behaviors of 12 species. Short, serviceable incantatory verses attempt to evoke a particular movement (“Skeining cross the autumn sky/ a moving V, a vocal flight/ a skein of geese”) while a concise paragraph explains why the birds do what they do: “The skein allows the birds to save energy on their journey, since air coming off each bird’s wings gives lift to the bird behind.” Hoffman’s of-the-moment, stylized illustrations employ rich colors—icy blues, saturated yellows, frosted greens—to capture plumage and landscape in playful compositions that use a variety of perspectives to create a sense of motion. The book closes with supplementary information on the birds featured and a winsome spread illustrating sample feathers from each species. Ages 6–9.

August 23, 2019

Gr 1-4-Griek uses the introductory poem to set a tone of informal fun, while the text on the facing page succinctly informs. Each double-page spread follows this pattern. The lyrical description of the puffins' flight pattern as they wheel around their nesting colony is followed by the explanation of how this behavior may confuse their predators. There's even the hint of a narrative in the pastel-colored illustrations. A falcon head appears on the cover, and a striped tail disappears off the edge of the first pages. This tail is depicted as being attacked by crows and finally appears as a peregrine diving through the air after prey. Every poem soars in its description, and each text presents solid information. The book lacks an index, but the one-page glossary succinctly defines many of the terms. The "More About the Birds" section contains a short paragraph and an illustration of the bird. VERDICT This nice combination of poetry, prose, and illustrations make this a good read-aloud and book to share.-Frances E. Millhouser, formerly at Fairfax County Public Library, VA

Copyright 2019 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2019
Poetry and prose combine to introduce distinctive ways birds move through the air. "Always, and in their own special ways, / birds are on the move." Writer Vande Griek repeats this line in the poems that begin and end this title, which introduces young readers and listeners to some specialized vocabulary used to describe bird movements as well as some interesting behaviors of 12 specific species, from Atlantic puffins to wood pewees. Each spread features a different species, usually shown as groups in flight against the background of a sky and some stylized scenery. Set on the illustration are both a poem and a paragraph of explanatory text. The free-verse poetry uses many techniques: repeated sounds and lines, internal rhymes, measured meter, and even shapes. It begs to be read aloud. These words introduce birds who might be encountered in at least some parts of North America, some splendid new vocabulary (peregrines "stoop," crows "mob," starlings move in "murmurations"), and a simplified explanation of the mechanics of flight. Hoffmann's natural-hued illustrations amplify the word-pictures. His paintings have clear angular lines, emphasizing the idea of flight. They also lead readers forward to the next page. Backmatter includes further information about each species, including where they can be found, details of their feathers, and a helpful glossary. A fresh and original approach to the study of birds and words. (Informational picture book. 6-10)

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October 1, 2019
Grades 2-4 Everyone knows that most birds can fly, but did you know that they can cartwheel and skein? Hover and mumerate? Here, the reader is treated to 12 birds and their wonderfully unusual forms of avian behavior. After a brief introduction to the mechanics of feathered flight, each bird's aerial acrobatics are described through an evocative poem and informational prose that expands upon the fanciful verse. Some birds are familiar (crows) and others less-so (wood-pewees), but all are treated with the same reverence. The gouache and digital illustrations splendidly reflect the corresponding movements and lend a truly soaring quality to the poetry. Hoffmann's art somehow evokes the motions perfectly, whether it's the drama of a gannet plunge-diving or the gentleness of hummingbirds hovering. The back matter provides additional facts, a helpful glossary, and an illustrated guide to their different types of feathers. An elegant introduction to the wonder of flight that will have readers watching the behavior of neighborhood birds long after the book has been absorbed.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)