The Blues Go Birding Across America
Written by Carol l. Malnor and Sandy F. Fuller
Ages 4-8, 36 Pages
Dawn Publications, 2010
Reviewed by Kim Hutmacher
Bio by Laura Crawford
Book Source: We would like to thank Dawn Publications for providing a copy of this book for review.
This book follows five singing bluebird friends- Bing, Lulu, Uno, Eggbert and Sammi- as they travel across the country searching for the perfect song to sing on America’s birthday at the Whitehouse. Along their journey, they discover a variety of other birds. They encounter the American Robin, Great Horned Owl and the Bald Eagle, among many others. They observe what each new bird looks like, how they act and how they sound.
Sammi keeps a notebook full of her observations. Among her many journal offerings, she notes that the albatross they see has a bracelet on. She later learns that this bracelet is actually a band that scientists use to track the albatross wherever it may go.
Eggbert provides birding tips on each spread. Some of his advice includes using binoculars to help you see birds more clearly, and he warns not to disturb birds by getting too close, especially when they have babies with them.
Field guide information is also included for each bird observed. Body size, wingspan, habitat, diet and the sound(s) made by each bird are recorded in each guide.
This story of the Blues and their quest is entertaining, but it is also a great tool to teach children about birds and birding.
Cick here to download free activities to use along with this book in the classroom.
Carol Malnor eats breakfast with the birds at her home in the foothills of California’s Sierra Nevada Mountains. As a teacher for more than twenty years, she worked with students ranging from dropouts to gifted elementary students. When writing The BLUES Go Birding Across America, she combined these two passions. Her coauthor Sandy Fuller is a children’s book author, illustrator and literary agent. Once a student of Maurice Sendak, she loves to share her knowledge and ideas about nature in her books. Check out her website at www.alparts.com.
This book is part of the Nonfiction Monday Round-Up hosted this week by The Miss Rumphius Effect blog.
Although we would never get to see some of these birds over here in the UK the book sounds lovely and I think my girls would really like the five singing bluebird friends!
ReplyDeleteThis would be a great resource for our current bird study -- I have my ear to the ground for interesting bird-related nonfiction. We just watched Winged Migration last week; what a treat. Thanks for sharing!
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ReplyDeleteIt sounds like a great book! Birds are so interesting. I had a story published in a magazine about a cardinal nest. I loved observing them.
ReplyDeletePlaying By the book, it sounds like The Blues Go Birding across the UK would be a great follow-up title!
ReplyDeleteHannah, this book and the one I reviewed last week, The Robin Makes a Laughing Sound, are both great for bird studies.
Sharon, I think cardinals are beautiful. What magazine was your story in? I'll have to look for it at the library.
Kim