Whose Nest Is This?

October 1, 2009
PreS-Gr 2-This picture book describes the nests of various birds, insects, mammals, fish, and reptiles. Whether it's an elf owl's cavity in a giant Saguaro, a Caribbean flamingo's mound of mud in shallow water, or a sea turtle's sandy pit, these shelters are described in brief rhymed texts: "Imagine a rocky-hard 'nest.' Can that be?/Picture an egg balanced delicately./High on a cliff this egg rests on a ledge./Whew! It rolls in a circlenot off the edge." The title question is then repeated at the end of each rhyme, and the nest builder is identified (in this example, a common murre). The creatures are brought to life in the engaging rhymes and vivid art. The illustrations in Bert Kitchen's "And So They Build" (Candlewick, 1995) are a little more realistic and provide more details."Frances E. Millhouser, formerly at Chantilly Regional Library, Fairfax County, VA"

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