A Bird Is a Bird

March 9, 2015
Rockwell walks readers through the characteristics that make birds, well, birds, accompanied by vivid, mixed-media portraits of dozens of avian specimens. After explaining that birds have beaks and wings (“Wings flap and glide. Wings help swim and dive”), and that they emerge from eggs, she concludes by covering the trait that separates them from platypuses, flies, and snakes (which have beaks, wings, and emerge from eggs, respectively): feathers. Direct writing and handsome labeled images of birds in their native environments (egrets and spoonbills hunt in shallow water, an owl and whip-poor-will appear camouflaged against tree bark) clearly demonstrate their breadth and diversity. Ages 3–7.

March 1, 2015

PreS-Gr 1-Rockwell answers a common question: What characteristics set birds apart from other animals? It's not just having a beak or wings or laying eggs that makes an animal a bird, she explains. Rather, it's feathers-whether colorful or dull, outstanding or camouflaged-that are the key trait. The book includes both common and lesser-known types of birds from around the world as examples, such as the Andean condor, the rock pigeon, and the toucan. Each illustration is labeled and, where pertinent, identified as male or female. Lively but minimal text with short sentences and a rhythmic pattern make this valuable both as a read-aloud and as an option for budding readers. Rockwell's bright, eye-catching images, rendered in gouache, watercolor, and colored pencil, add to the appeal. VERDICT This attractive and informative title is a great addition to school and public libraries and a strong option for curriculum-related studies of nature for the very young.-Eva Elisabeth VonAncken, formerly at Trinity-Pawling School, Pawling, NY

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 15, 2015
Birds have beaks and wings and begin as eggs, like some other animals, but only a bird has feathers.A step up from Susan Stockdale's Bring on the Birds (2011), this is similarly simple and straightforward, just right for preschool listeners. But it has the added attraction of accurate, full-page or double-page-spread illustrations of more than 40 species of birds, labeled and shown in typical habitats. From common ostriches and a superb starling facing each other on an east African savannah to the rock pigeon standing on one foot on an urban windowsill, these examples range widely in size, appearance, habits and familiarity. A song sparrow graces the title page, and there are two varieties of domestic chickens, but there are also exotic birds such as the resplendent quetzal and toco toucan. Short, declarative sentences explain some uses of beaks and wings. A blue-headed parrot picks fruit; a pileated woodpecker pecks at a tree; an Andean condor soars, and king penguins swim. "But wait!" the author says, and she cites examples of animals with beaks, wings and eggs that aren't birds: platypus, housefly, milk snake. Only birds have feathers (handsomely displayed on a male peacock). Feathers help a bird stand out or blend in, fly, and stay warm and dry-and make a bird a bird, in a nicely child-friendly summation. Widely useful, this should be a welcome addition to the nature shelf. (Informational picture book. 3-7)

May 1, 2015
Preschool-G Against the blue sky of an African savanna, a regal common ostrich stands beside a tiny superb starling, setting the stage for Rockwell's picture-book exploration of birds of all colors and sizes. While comparing and contrasting birds, the author connects them through the refrain, A bird is a bird because . . . Pointing to beaks, wings, and eggs as defining features, Rockwell explains the significance of each and crosses other animal candidates off the list (a platypus, a fly, a snake) because they lack one very important avian feature: feathers! Through a combination of gouache, watercolor, and colored pencil, the cheerful illustrations boast a surprising amount of detail and variety, including carefully labeled depictions of both male and female birds. The full-page pictures and minimal text are just right for young readers, but older children will enjoy learning the names of the multitude of birds inhabiting the scenes, ensuring that this book will go far with new readers and budding birders.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)