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Nonfiction for Bird Loving Kids

May 4, 2011 by Dawn

As the temperature warms up and Spring makes herself known, my children and I love to watch the birds reappear all around- in our backyard, in trees surrounding the playground, and by the lake in town. My youngest child at three is a big fan of predatory birds, loving any book that featured owls since he was a baby, while my almost-five year old daughter is more of a songbird kind of kid. My oldest, now ten, has happily shared my interest in reading and finding out info about birds his whole life as well. All of us are so very excited for the release of two new nonfiction picture books from Sterling Children’s Books.

Jim Arnosky’s Thunder Birds: Nature’s Flying Predators had me with one simple glance. I was seriously wowed by the details on the pencil and paint depiction of an osprey that graces the cover. Arnosky ranks at the top of my personal list of illustrators who render scenes from nature just perfectly. In addition to the incredible paintings here is a wealth of information- data on more than sixty predatory birds, including eagles, hawks, falcons, owls, pelicans, loons and more. With fold-out pages, many of the illustrations are depicted life-size, in fact!

Arnosky’s note at the beginning of the book conveys his sincere interest and appreciation for nature, and his love for birds is palpable in this book. Many margins are dotted with small pencil sketches of details like a heron’s foward-facing eyes a close-up depiction of owl wing feathers or talons. To introduce each group of birds, he shares his knowledge and short anecdotes of his personal experiences. Thunder Birds: Nature’s Flying Predators is a must-have for any bird-loving child’s bookshelf.

Another interesting resource book with a unique and impressive back story is the newly released Olivia’s Birds: Saving the Gulf by Olivia Bouler. At only eleven years of age, Olivia Bouler is a talented artist, acutely observant ornithologist-in-training, and incredible fundraiser. With the promise to send donors original pieces of her bird-inspired artwork, Olivia has raised over $150,000 in donations to the Audubon’s Gulf oil spill recovery program! She’s articulate and passionate about nature, and she encourages children to remember that everyone can make a difference.

Olivia’s Birds: Saving the Gulf is part field guide, part awareness raising, with paintings and information on over fifty birds, from backyard birds to sea birds. She also includes information and suggestions for other children who would like to be more eco-friendly in their own lives.

Without hesitation, I’m placing both Thunder Birds: Nature’s Flying Predators and Olivia’s Birds: Saving the Gulf in our 5 Star Reads category, for their value as resources, their amazing artwork, and the encouragement they offer to children to enjoy, to be amazed, and to take care of the natural world around them.


I’m so happy to be able to share the birdy fun with a 5 Minutes for Books reader! We have a copy of each book to give away to one winner, please leave a comment here to be entered. (U.S. residents only, please.) We’ll announce the winner on 5/18.
This giveaway is closed.

  • The winner of Beside Still Waters is #12, Beth C.
  • The winner of Trauma Queen is #2 Karen Gonyea.

Dawn is so happy to have three bird-loving kids of her own. Their adventures, including those in the great outdoors, are chronicled on her blog, my thoughts exactly.

Check out our current giveaways. Subscribe to our feed. Follow us @5M4B on Twitter or on Facebook.

Filed Under: 5 Star Reads, Children's Non-fiction, Dawn, Picture Books

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Comments

  1. Kerrie Mayans says

    May 4, 2011 at 12:56 am

    I think my daughter would enjoy this book.

    [email protected]

  2. riTa says

    May 4, 2011 at 7:47 am

    We saw a new bird yesterday. Always eager to learn more and share with the grands!

  3. Amy says

    May 4, 2011 at 8:51 am

    My kids love birds!

  4. Vilmarys says

    May 4, 2011 at 8:58 am

    Every time my daughter sees a bird she goes crazy pointing and making sure I don’t miss what she’s seeing.

  5. Erin says

    May 4, 2011 at 3:15 pm

    What lovely books!

  6. connie black says

    May 4, 2011 at 4:04 pm

    Wow, my children would love these books. Thanks for the chance.

    • Jennifer says

      May 18, 2011 at 7:44 am

      Connie–

      You won these books!

      Please send your shipping info to Dawn at morninglightmama AT gmail (dot) com

  7. Carol M says

    May 4, 2011 at 5:17 pm

    I would love to give these books to my grandsons!
    Thank you for the giveaway!

  8. Jessica T says

    May 4, 2011 at 11:24 pm

    Both my kids would enjoy this!

  9. Linda Kish says

    May 5, 2011 at 8:47 pm

    Sounds great. Count me in please.

    lkish77123 at gmail dot com

  10. Staci A says

    May 6, 2011 at 12:29 pm

    My son loves reading non-fiction books. He would love the one about flying predators! Thanks for the chance to enter.

  11. Natalia says

    May 6, 2011 at 11:33 pm

    My daughter loves owls!

  12. SamanthaR says

    May 7, 2011 at 10:39 pm

    My son loves our birdfeeder! These would be great to read with him!

  13. Alison S. says

    May 9, 2011 at 2:11 pm

    My son is starting to enjoy watching the birds in our yard and would probably enjoy this, too.

  14. Karen says

    May 11, 2011 at 7:32 pm

    My nephew would love this book.

  15. Megan says

    May 13, 2011 at 8:28 pm

    My daughter loves birds! She’d really enjoy this if I won.
    mearley1979 at gmail dot com

Trackbacks

  1. Thunder Birds: Nature’s Flying Predators by Jim Arnosky | Hope Is the Word says:
    January 9, 2012 at 5:02 am

    […] Review by Dawn at 5 Minutes for Books (She nominated the title for the Cybils!) […]

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