Tender Twigs

Bird Books

A reader with two girls 6 and 11 years old emailed me quite some time ago (I've been working on this post since June) asking for bird book suggestions.  I've procrastinated by reading quite a few bird books from the library.   

Your recommendations would be most welcome. 
I know there are many books that I am probably missing.

I wrote a post some time ago that includes many bird books for preschoolers.  Check out that post for preschool bird book suggestions.  I'm now reading those books to Silas.  Below are books more suited for early elementary.

   

Bird, Butterfly, Eel, a beautifully illustrated story of a bird, butterfly and an eel's return to a Massachusetts farm, introduces the reader to animal migration, nesting, and preparing for the eventual autumn journey .  The illustrations and simple text tells the story of each creatures migration and life cycle.  Cate liked the two page map that shows how far each creature traveled.  The swallow travels 8000 miles to Argentina which is much farther away than I imagined.

If you liked the Caldecott Honor winning A River of Words: The Story of William Carlos Williams illustrated by Melissa Sweet you will enjoy her illustrations in The Boy Who Drew Birds: A Story of John James Audubon.  The story is a very brief biographical sketch of the time Audubon began "banding" birds.  It is amazing to realize not so long ago bird migration was not quite understood.  For a more complete picture book biography I recommend Into the Woods: John James Audubon Lives His Dream.

Recently we read Bird Boy, an early chapter book set in China on the Li River near the Guilin mountains.  This story about a mute boy who lives with his mother and father on a fishing boat introduces the reader to the use of cormorants among fishermen in China.  We learned quite a bit from this delightful book which includes illustrations.   You can also see cormorants in Daisy Comes Home illustrated by Jan Brett and also set in China. 

 

Many of you will know An Egg is Quiet but if not the illustrations present drawings of different eggs and bits of information.  This isn't a book to read aloud but one to leave in your child's room for her to discover.

Flute's Journey follows a wood thrush from the nest through the migration to Costa Rica and back to a small patch of land in Maryland.  The thrush encounters difficulties due to the destruction of its habitat.  There is so much you can do with this book.  Most importantly it teaches children that we are impacting the birds' environment. 

The illustrations in The Cuckoo's Haiku are amazing which makes the haiku seem almost secondary.  I would check this book just to read and use as a beautiful identification book. 

 

The three books pictured above are perfect for the a little older reader.  Bird Watching with Margaret Morse Nice (see all Naturalist's Apprentice Biographies) is a historical biography about a woman at the turn of the 20th century devoted to ornithology and includes lovely illustrations, information about bird watching, selecting binoculars, hunting for bird nests, learning to listen to bird song and bird gardens. 

Little Leap Forward is another book set in China except at the beginning of the Cultural Revolution.  Although not a bird story, the main character Little Leap Forward has a pet bird who acts as a metaphor for the pain and confusion surrounding the unset of the Cultural Revolution.  Beautifully illustrated, well written and published by Barefoot Books.

My husband read Eudora Welty's The Shoe Bird to Cate.  He didn't enjoy the book or the more difficult writing style of Welty but Cate certainly enjoyed it and talked endlessly about the birds she met in the story. Also, Cate listened to this musical fable based on The Shoe Bird and narrated by Jim Dale.  Again, she enjoyed it but I didn't listen to it.  Oh, just now reading the reviews on Amazon made me reorder it from the library.  We will try and listen to it in the car. 

I read 100 Birds and How They Got Their Names a few years ago along with the companion 100 Flowers and How They Got Their Names.  I think this would make a nice read aloud.  Each bird has a short 2-3 page chapter.  For the child who wants to dig deeper into learning about birds, I highly recommend this one.

And finally, Riki's Birdhouse.  I adore this book and have read it to Silas several time in the last few weeks.  He loves it now but it is a book you can grow with because of all the details in the margins.  Like Zinnia's Flower Garden also by Monica Wellington, you encounter the topic in each season of the year.  If your child likes birdies, this is not to be missed.

Two more posts where I wrote about bird books
Bird Poetry and Sing Nightingale,Sing

Well, that's all for now.  I'm finding it more and more difficult to write about books.  Other bloggers are so good at writing succinct meaningful reviews.  What I offer is only my heartfelt recommendation of the books we have enjoyed. 

Some Favorite Books & a Winner

Here is a sneak peek of some of the books that might be on my top 100 picture book list.  I created these Amazon lists (some time ago) to share some of my recommendations over the last three years. I would recommend any of these for gift giving.  Take a look and let me know if you see a favorite.

Painted Rainbows Recommended Books

Painted Rainbows Recommended Book List 2

 

And the winner of the book Emily and Daisy is Christy from Superheros and Princesses.  Christy has a seriously cute blog, so check out all her wonderful ideas.  Her Tot School posts have inspired me to start preschool with Silas.  

So many book suggestions...

Lissa wrote a post mentioning all the books she wants to read and linking to the reviews that made her want to read the book.  So I thought I would narrow my book post today to books we (or I) have read thanks to other bloggers.

First up, Mariposa and Ami's reading lists.  You know you are very far far behind when you are trying to keep up with a seven year. ;)  I read two books Mariposa suggested, A Light at Tern Rock and Mary, Bloody, Mary.  The reading of Mary prompted a reading of Beware, Princess Elizabeth by the same author and Nine Days a Queen by Ann Rinaldi.  I should be reading Antonia Fraser's Wives of Henry VIII, a book on my 4 x 10 Reading List.  I need to update and tick off what I've read from the list.

I loved The Light at Tern Rock.  The main character Martha Morse is wise, simple and content in solitude.  Her wisdom delighted me from the first pages.  I really can't do the book justice but I highly recommend reading this slim 52 page book.  The story is set during the season of Christmas but reading it far removed from the season offers even more poignancy.  I was especially fond of the message that lighthouse keeping is "good work."  We need our children to read more messages that the honest work of farmers, repairmen and bakers is good work.  This is a story about broken promises and forgiveness and of facing adversity with enthusiasm. To be honest, the little book is a perfect parenting manual.  The young boy in the story is angry over the broken promise and Martha knows just how to love him in the situation.  Her patience is inspiring.  How did I miss this book (a Newbery Honor 1951) for all these years?  I will be tracking down a used hardcover copy of this book to read to Cate and again to Si and again for myself and again for my grandchildren. 

   

Mom and Kiddo suggested The Curious Garden in her Urban Picture Book series.  The story follows a boy (Liam) who discovers a small patch of flowers at the top of an abandoned railway track.  He tends the garden and it grows and grows.  There are wonderful wordless pages that Cate enjoyed.  She enjoyed it so much that she wanted to give it as a birthday present to a friend.  The birthday girl liked it so much that her mother decided to give it as an end of the year teacher gift.  That makes me happy.

  

Kate, Oh how I wish I could be as consistent as Kate's Tuesday Book posts.  There is always a gem or two to discover.  Kate suggested A Farm of Her Own and it did not disappoint.  I too found that I wanted to have a farm of my own after reading this beautifully illustrated book to Cate.  We enjoyed reading and seeing the rhythms of the Summer farm.  Kate also wrote about Rocks in His Head, a story of one man's love of rocks and minerals.  The story takes place before, during and after the Depression Era.  Through the economic ups and downs, the man stays committed to something that doesn't cost money, his passion for learning about and collecting rocks.  A must read for kids who like rocks and a great subtle add on to the study of the Depression.

 

Sara suggested The Kitchen Knight which Cate loved.  My husband introduced Cate to castles and King Arthur and it has been fun to encourage her interest.  The Kitchen Knight is a single story from the King Arthur ledgend illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman.  I love to read a single fariy tale or legend in picture books and this one is especially good.  If you have a child at all interested in King Arthur then this is a must read.  Sara has mentined to me that she might write up a post about the other Knights and Castle books they read this year.  I'm looking forward to it. ;)

Our reading has been limited lately.  Silas is always present and always demanding to read his books.  Apparently, we are far more interesting than any toy I could offer.  When I do manage to start reading to Cate, he starts climbing all over us and that sends Cate into a fit.  We do read at the end of the day but sometimes at that point I'm spent.  I try and remember that I have many years to read to them but I feel like we are not reading as much as I wish.  Presently, we are reading On The Banks of Plum Creek, some Mother West Wind stoires, and picture books in the evenings.

So thank you, friends, for writing about the books you enjoy.  It is nice to know that I have great books in my library bag.

What Happens on Wednesdays

Perhaps only Mom and Kiddo understands the reference from the photo above.  It is from What Happens on Wednesday, reviewed at What Do We Do All Day? in her Urban Book Series.  Cate really enjoyed it.

Cate loves her swim lessons.  She has her first little teacher crush on "Mr. Trey", the young man teaching her class.  Almost everyday she creates a love note of some sort.  Here she has created a pool from wooden blocks.  The blond Caucasian wooden person standing on the edge is Mr. Trey and the cup of wool balls is his ever present cup of coffee.  Cate is the only girl in the class with three very active boys. 

A moment...

A couple of days before the Spring Equinox, I pulled our copy of Flower Fairies of Winter from the shelf.  I felt a bit desperate as we hadn't read from it all season.  I read a few poems.  When I read The Hazel-Catkin Fairy, Cate took the book from my hand and asked if she could read it aloud.  She read it flawlessly without any of the stumbles I had made.  And I was no longer desperate basking in that moment of her utter perfection.

Finally, the fairies are calling "Spring is Here."  We had lovely weather this weekend.

 

Like little tails of little lambs.
   On leafless twigs my catkins swing;
They dingle-dangle merrily
   Before the wakening of Spring.

Beside the pollen-laden tails
   My tiny crimson tufts you see
The promise of the autumn nuts
   Upon the slender hazel tree.

While yet the woods lie grey and still
   I give my tidings: "Spring is near!"
One day the land shall leap to life
   With fairies calling: "Spring is HERE!"

My desk is covered in books...

Blogging is a fickle hobby but the one thing that keeps me tethered to it is sharing books.  There are so many books I want to share.  More often than not I don't make the time to share.  I do put books in the sidebars but I am not sure how many click through to the blog to see the books.  Here is my desk. 

I'll share a few of the books I've put here to write about on the blog.  My reading life is out of control, too many books and not enough actual reading.  I'm going to gather up the 90 odd books I have from the library (many just waiting to be blogged about) and return them to the library tomorrow.  So for the rest of the afternoon, we will be reading books one last time.  Tonight I will page through the many books for me and decide which I can reasonably read in the next week.

 

No doubt, you have seen Ida Pearle's A Child's Day: An Alphabet of Play.  It is popular for good reason.  I've read it to Silas many times.  Each alphabet word is a verb and I was able to point this out to Cate.  It is a good book to introduce verbs as part of speech.

Gallop, again another popular book.  Si loves our used copy.  Recently, I realized that he learned the star shape from this book.  The last page has a moving star with the words "a star is what you are!"  It is a great book for introducing the star shape.

Fletcher and the Springtime Blossoms offers a delightful tale of that one day when the tree blossoms start to loosen from the trees and it looks like snow.  If you enjoyed the original Fletcher book, check this one from the library. 

     

My blogging friend Alycia, a school teacher and mother to two adorable girls (her oldest is the same age as Cate) has wonderful book selections and like me is trying to read as many picture books as possible before her daughter is "too old."  A few weeks ago she recommended Most Loved in All the World.  The recommendation didn't include the warning that it will reduce you to tears.  If you are trying to impart a sense of life as a slave and the journey north for freedom check out this book.  You won't regret it.  And then hold our child tight and be thankful that she can always be with you.  Kate recommended The Golden Rule.  This would make a wonderful gift book.  With remarkable illustrations this story explains the Golden Rule in many of the major religions of the world.  And then the little boy in the story asks how he can practice the golden rule and the grandfather explains "You imagine how someone else feels.  For instance, a new child who is joining your class.  How do you think that boy or girl is feeling?"  A Packet of Seeds is a pioneer story of one family heading west to the prairie.  The mother must leave her family and friends, each friend gives her a packet of flower seeds so that she can recreate a bit of home on the prairie.  The mother will need the seeds for hope.  This would make a nice compliment to a study of Little House on the Prairie.

 

I've started sorting out books that I read to Cate that Silas is now ready to enjoy.  Lots of moving and organizing of books.  I have several posts I want to write about this transition to longer picture books.  Month by Month a Year Goes Round and it's companion Day by Day a Week Goes Around are nice to read for learning the months of the year and the days of the week.  Si has taken an interest in what day it is.  Saturday and Sunday being the optimal days because "daddy is home."  I adore What Does a Bunny See? and if you have a young preschooler learning colors check this one from the library.  The text cleverly marries color and flowers and the illustrations are adorable.  Trout Are Made of Trees is a wonderfully easy explanation of the circle of life, leaf falls from tree, lands in the river, digested by small bugs, fish eat bugs and so on.  The illustrations are simple and child pleasing as well.

I also have a small stack of books that I found to do book giveaways on my blog.  When I see books at the Goodwill that I already have but would love to share with others I've started picking them up for book giveaways.  I have a fairly negative opinion of corporate giveaways on blogs but crafted items or books are just right in opinion.  I hope you will agree. :)

I also have a stack of books that I am selling on Amazon but I will write about that in another post. 

One last set of books, I found four Winnie the Pooh (hardcover books published in 1961) at the Goodwill for 75 cents each.  That made my day.  Cate has been listening to the  Jim Broadbent CD of Winnie the Pooh and the books are a current favorite.  They have that wonderful old book feel.  And just one more photo, my little girl wrote this and left it on my desk. 

Silas observes...

Perhaps the post brings too many boxes from Amazon when your two year old points to a box and says "is that Amazon?"  Especially poignant in the presence of your husband. ;)

A few books...

I've been quiet for the last two weeks, no posts, not even commenting.  I'm still reading your blogs but my ambition for it all is remote.  I'm finding it difficult to muster the enthusiasm to blog.  But I have a few things worth sharing.

If your are a fan of old fashioned read alouds or the Handbook of Nature Study, toggle right over to your library browser and order Enid Blyton's Nature Lover's Book.  I started it just yesterday and already I'm feeling the urge to own it.  The stories are delightful, the poems comfortable and there is a good bit of nature study material as well.  A true gem that should not to be missed.

Silas can count to 10!  I think he also knows the value of 1, 2, and 3.  One of his favorite things right now is to hold my hand and say "two hands.  The original title of this post was "three thing" and this was the second thing.

Last night I started "B" is for Betsy with Cate.  We read a little more this morning because she woke well before six (Si had woke at 4:30 but was back in bed with daddy).  A couple of chapters of Betsy and she agreed to go back to bed for a bit.  We also read three picture books yesterday that are all worth mentioning. 

      

Children sit upon a blanket in The Story Blanket and listen to Babba Zarrah weave stories.  It is the middle of the winter, no wool or yarn is expected to reach the village until Spring but Babba Zarrah notices that the children need new clothes.  She begins to unravel the story quilt in order to knit the gifts of warmth.  There is a touching exchange of wool in this story.  If you enjoyed How Mama Brought the Spring I think you will also enjoy The Story Quilt.  Dodsworth in Paris is an easy chapter book (same level a Frog and Toad).  It is a sweet story and made me realize that Cate was indeed listening when I read This is Paris.  If you have Poetry Speaks to Children you've probably heard the memorable recording of Langston Hughes reading The Negro Speaks of Rivers.  Check out this new picture book.  The illustrations are powerful and bring the poem to life.

Books worth buying...

at least to me.  A few of you asked how I kept relatives from buying my children unacceptable toys, well let's just say I'm not always successful.  I come from the smallest extended family, virtually everyone is an only child expect me and I only have one sister.  This helps limit the quanity.  I like to joke that my in- laws surely were annoyed with me sometime in October as I started insisting, "no plastic, no noise, no television references."  This year, I was more firm and did write a list of books that we really wanted.  Here is the list of books we liked enough to request as a gift.

From Meme and Papa

     

   

In a Blue Room was by far my favorite book of last year.  If you haven't read it, toggle on over to your library browser and order it right now.  This is the night time routine I most wish to create.  Lovely illustrations, soothing word, and even a cup of tea.

Hush Little Digger, Machines at Work, both for Si are favorites.  Machines at Work isn't as good as Trucks, Planes or Boats but the familiar illustrations are a hit with Si.  Amazing Machines includes Terrific Trucks and many others by Tony Mitton, a favorite author in this house.  I learned something from each book and they are easy to read aloud.  The set of ten books from Amazon is a real bargain.  It would make a terrific little boy gift.

The Story of the Wind Children and Bill Martin Jr Big Book of Poetry were really for me (lol) but Cate is enjoying them as well.  I adore all those Waldorf type books and hope to collect as many as possible.

From Granny & Papa

   

   

Si is wild about the Bear Snores On series and we own them all, so Bear Feels Scared was a a natural selection.  What is a Scientist? was such a useful book that we just had to have it on the shelf.  What child doesn't like rocks?  If You Find a Rock explores all the possibilities.  Cate has referenced the book many times.  Susan Jeffers' The Nutcracker is my favorite version of the story that I've read so far.  An Egg is Quiet (another one really for me) is too beautiful not to have in the home.  And finally, Miss Suzy was one of my favorite's as a child and I am happy to have our very own copy.

Oh, and I almost forgot to say thank you Meme, Granny and the Papa's for honoring our wishes.  The kids love the books very much and all the other non plastic, quiet, toys.  :)

Listening for Crickets

Do you ever pick up holds at the library and wonder why you ordered a particularly book?  It happens to me more often than I would like but usually I attribute it to a recommendation of a fellow blogger.  I found Listening for Crickets on my hold shelf.  (Yes, I do almost have my own shelf at the library.)  This middle grade fiction book has a gorgeous cover so maybe I thought it was a picture book.  If you know where I might have read about, let me know.  I used to read a lot of middle grade fiction when I worked for Scholastic but since the arrival of Cate all I read are picture books.  It was nice to be able to read it in an evening and a welcome change of pace.

There are some swear words in this book.  I always worry that that might offend someone.  I assume that all the children of my readers live a fairly blessed and privileged life.  Listening for Crickets is about a brother and sister who do not live in privilege. The father is a loving but unstable alcoholic and the mother must work hard to protect her children and make ends meet.  That said, this book is gentle enough for a 9 or 10 year old to read and perhaps discuss with a parent.  A child can read this and come away with a certain gratitude for the ease of his life.  Also, I would recommend it for a boy who has learning struggles. 

Jake is ten years old and is very protective of his younger sister Cassie.  They share a bedroom in their small house.  When their parents fight, Jake tells Cassie stories to ease her fears.  Jake has a remarkable ability to create calm for his sister and himself.  He is a bit different, a few webbed toes, extra large ears and much to his embarrassment he is in the "special" class for reading.  He reminds the adult reader that children come with all kinds of intelligence.  Jake is a gentle and wonderful kid despite all his hardships.  I highly recommend the book.