City Hawk

September 3, 2007
Featuring similarly spare paintings as Jeanette Winters's The Tale of Pale Male: A True Story
, McCarthy's (Aliens Are Coming!
) book covers much of the same turf—and air space—as that spring release. McCarthy concisely chronicles the true, reportedly unprecedented occurrence of two red-tailed hawks' construction of a nest in the cornice of a swanky apartment building on Manhattan's Upper East Side. From nearby Central Park, a group of bird-watchers who called themselves “the Regulars” vigilantly followed Pale Male and Lola's every move and rejoiced when two chicks hatched. The other headline-grabbing aspect of these hawks' tale—the building's residents, irked by the birds' messy habits, successfully lobbied to get the nest removed, then, in response to passionate protests, reversed their decision—is explained in a lengthy author's note. Combining vibrant and earth tones, McCarthy's unadorned acrylic illustrations have a puckish quality, both her human and winged characters incarnated as amiable bug-eyed creatures who express themselves through the slant of their mouths (or tilt of their beaks). A portion of the proceeds from sales of this book will benefit New York City Audubon. Ages 4-8.

October 1, 2007
PreS-Gr 3-This delightful picture book provides a glimpse into the world of excited bird watchers as Pale Male (so named because of his light feathers) became the first documented red-tailed hawk to make New York City his home, in 1991. Though the text is minimal, McCarthy deftly conveys the thrill of onlookers as they realized that the hawk was planning to stay, not merely stop off in Central Park as thousands of migrating birds do each year. As people watched day after day through telescopes and cameras, Pale Male took a mate (Lola) and the birds assembled a nest on a ledge of a Fifth Avenue building overlooking the park. After the eggs hatched, admirers waited breathlessly for the babies to learn to fly. The acrylic paintings offer an identifiable Manhattan, complete with beautiful soft colorations depicting seasonal changes and the birds' muted plumage. Whimsy and lighthearted touchesthe huge bug eyes of humans and hawks alike, the expressive faces of Pale Male and Lola, and individualized depictions of the "Regulars" (the most-dedicated observers)keep things appealing to young readers. An appended section on Central Park and an author's note offer fascinating background and historical information. The theme of nature nurtured in our big cities is one of hope and renewal, making this title a must for all collections."Lynne Mattern, Robert Seaman School, Jericho, NY"

Copyright 2007 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.