Where's the Party?

June 1, 2011

PreS-Gr 2-Kate wakes up to a robin's song and a cardinal whistling,"Par-ty!" Grabbing her basket, she follows the calls of a titmouse, meadowlark, yellowthroat, oriole, bluebird, blue heron, and killdeer until she discovers a pair of mallards and their babies. She gives them a present of wild strawberries gathered along the way to celebrate the ducklings' one-week birthday but wisely heeds Mother Duck's warning not to touch them. Realizing the party is over, she returns home to join her parents for a breakfast of toast and wild jam. Robey's inquisitive heroine clearly appreciates nature as she looks for clues for what the party is about and where it is located. Endle's realistical collages set the birds against speckled and printed backgrounds and focus attention on the different types of wildlife mentioned in the story. A glossary of the 10 birds mentioned gives more information for budding bird-watchers. A pleasant additional purchase for young nature lovers.-Martha Simpson, Stratford Library Association, CT

Copyright 2011 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.