Sparrow Loves Birds by Murry Burgess

Illustrated by Tamisha Anthony

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On Sale: Jun 11, 2024
Page Count: 40 pages
Publisher: Christy Ottaviano Books
ISBN-13: 9780316307222

Meet Sparrow—a curious young birder eager to explore her neighborhood’s surroundings—in this STEM picture book written by a professional wildlife ornithologist.

“Amid recent efforts to diversify bird-watching, this inviting work is especially welcome. Certain to cultivate a love of nature in all who pick it up.” —Kirkus Reviews

Sparrow sets out for a day of birding, where she watches, listens, and identifies the many types of birds around her through their color (red—a cardinal), song (“Cheer up! Cheer up!”—a robin), and movement (flitting backward, forward, and even upside down—a hummingbird). Using her notebook and markers, Sparrow records all the birds she sees on her walk.

This interactive STEM offering is a welcome primer for young children interested in birding close to home. The back matter features an author’s note, birding tips for kids to get started, and a primer birding field guide.

Praise for Sparrow Loves Birds:

“Anthony’s bird illustrations are lovingly rendered… A worthy addition to a collection, especially one that offers a bird-watching kit for little birders in its Library of Things.” —School Library Journal

“An avian-loving child named Sparrow goes bird-watching in this observational picture book that emphasizes sensory methods of perception. . . the protagonist’s day outside invitingly suggests that patience and perception are all it takes to connect to nature. An author’s note, bird-watching tips, and bird glossary conclude.” —Publishers Weekly

Genre:

Series:

Sparrow Loves Animals

Praise for Sparrow Loves Birds:

"[A] child proves that anyone, anywhere, can be a birder. Sparrow, a Black girl with her hair in twists, lives in a bustling town filled with noises such as car horns and barking dogs, but the town still has plenty of birds to observe…. The book includes a nice variety, from close-ups to more distant scenes featuring a wide-eyed, animated child watching through her binoculars or mimicking the birds’ behaviors…. Amid recent efforts to diversify bird-watching, this inviting work is especially welcome. Certain to cultivate a love of nature in all who pick it up."

Kirkus Reviews
"An avian-loving child named Sparrow goes bird-watching in this observational picture book that emphasizes sensory methods of perception…. Anthony’s soft-edged digital artwork brightly renders springtime scenes of the attentive protagonist, portrayed with brown skin, interacting with bird life. As Sparrow’s observations of individual species’ attributes educate, the protagonist’s day outside invitingly suggests that patience and perception are all it takes to connect to nature. An author’s note, bird-watching tips, and bird glossary conclude."
Publishers Weekly
"The onomatopoeia used in the story is strong, with bird calls carefully spelled out…. Anthony’s bird illustrations are lovingly rendered in digital pencil and watercolor…. A worthy addition to a collection, especially one that offers a bird-watching kit for little birders in its Library of Things."
School Library Journal