How to Find a Bird

May 1, 2020
A veteran birder invites young readers to look for the birds around them. "There are lots of ways to find a bird. / That's the wonderful thing about birds." Ward, author of many nature titles including Mama Dug a Little Den, illustrated by Steve Jenkins (2018), offers good suggestions for bird-finding at any age. Move slowly and quietly. Try to blend in. Look up, down, and also straight ahead. And, finally, "the best way to find a bird": close your eyes and listen. Ward makes clear why birds are where they are. Some are feeding or nesting on the ground; some are snacking or splashing in the water; some are high in the sky; others perch on wires or feed in your own backyard. Sudyka's opaque watercolors are as engaging as the text. A smiling black child and a shorter child with pale skin and straight, black pigtails discover birds in a variety of environments. Hand-lettered labels identify the many birds shown. Two spreads make a puzzle: Three birds blend into a tree's bark so well they can barely be seen; a page turn shows them close-up and labeled. The birds might not realistically all be found in the same parts of this country or at the same time, but they are reasonably common (except on the spread showing five extinct birds) and clearly identifiable in these illustrations. An afterword for older readers or caregivers provides good suggestions and further resources. Bird-finding made easy and attractive. (Informational picture book. 4-8)

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June 1, 2020

K-Gr 3-Beautiful and fascinating birds exist all around, according to Ward's new guide on amateur ornithology. As a little boy and girl go exploring, the text offers clues on where and how bird-watchers should look for feathered friends. Ward, an avian enthusiast, advises readers to look on the ground, try to detect camouflaged birds, and remain still and quiet to hear bird sounds. Sudyka's illustrations are stunning and detailed. Each bird is labeled, and the sounds the birds make swoop across the page in varied fonts. The text itself is simple and engaging, and Ward's passion for birds and love of nature are apparent. VERDICT This brief and visually captivating title will inspire readers to get outside and watch birds.-Kaitlin Malixi, Kensington Health Sciences Academy, Philadelphia

Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2020
Grades K-2 Birds are absolutely everywhere?they hide, they creep, they fly, they flock!?and this marvelous guide to finding feathered friends in the wild poetically points out the endless possibilities. Though plenty of birds take to the skies and trees, a birdwatcher shouldn't simply look up, Ward insists. Some blend into their surroundings, some nest on the ground, and some paddle in the water, sneaking snacks. Most important, don't forget to simply stop and listen for birds, as a glorious spread of cheery birdcalls suggests. It's a thoroughly charming introduction to bird behavior, and Sudyka's resplendent watercolor and gouache illustrations fill the pages with movement and onomatopoeic songs. Ward easily conveys a real excitement and admiration for our avian companions and makes bird-watching feel incredibly accessible for readers who may find themselves wandering in the woods or simply staring out their windows. Back matter includes some wonderfully helpful tips and resources for new bird watchers, and the vivid introduction to the subject is sure to make a budding ornithologist out of any young reader.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)

August 10, 2020
Two wide-eyed children, one Black and one white, encounter an assortment of birds across various habitats in this assertively whimsical introduction to birding. Beginning with suggestions for eyeing birds (“Quiet is good”), Ward’s text offers ping-ponging injunctions (“Don’t just look up to find a bird;” “Of course you can always look up to find a bird too!”) alongside questionable assertions, such as “Birds are the cleverest blenders of all.” (Chameleons and octopuses may take issue.) Employing identifying labels and vague characteristics (European starlings can be found “simply sitting”), Sudyka’s vibrant illustrations show avian life, including tundra swans, California quails, monk parakeets, and burrowing owls, sampled from various ecological niches. A closing spread titled “We Can All Be Birdwatchers!” provides a succinct and helpful guide to bird-watching, field marks, making a life list, and becoming a citizen scientist. Ages 4–8. Author’s agent: Stefanie Sanchez Von Borstel, Full Circle Literary. Illustrator’s agent: Andrea Morrison and Rebecca Sherman, Writers House.