Tales from Maple Ridge #6 The New Kid by Grace Gilmore illustrated by Petra Brown

 Oswald Robbins, who wants to be called Wally, is a new kid in the Maple Ridge one room schoolhouse, making the total number of students an odd 21. Judging him from his looks and mannerisms, the students label him as odd and suspicious. When a coveted book goes missing from the brand new school library, Wally is the number one suspect. Fortunately, Logan wants to investigate and makes a new a friend.

I liked this story the best out of the five I have read in this series.

Discuss: judging others, welcoming new & different people to a group, jumping to conclusions

-Borrowed from the library.

Goldfinches by Mary Oliver illustrated by Melissa Sweet*

 Ms. Sweet illustates Mary Oliver's poem "Goldfinches". The way she separates the lines on singular pages causes the reader to reflect on the words and appreciate Ms. Oliver's word play and word choice. 

I love Ms. Sweet's collage art. I own four of her books. I enjoyed reading how she researched for this book. Her correlation between thistles and the timing of goldfinch nesting is interesting (I knew about it prior to reading this book. I am glad she focused on how they mutually benefit each other so a younger audience can be in awe of God.)

Consideration: In the author's note, she mentions Mary's life partner, Molly. Since the book is the poem, their relationship is not highlighted in the main text.

*Highly recommend but see consideration.

-Borrowed from the library.

Red & Lulu by Matt Tavares*

 A pair of cardinals love their Norway spruce tree in a small backyard. Red, the male cardinal, and Lulu, the female cardinal, especially love Christmas. The house owners decorate their tree with lights. People gather at the front door to sing a song about the tree.  One day a group of people chop it down and haul it into the city. Red follows the truck because he hears his beloved Lulu singing from inside the tree! This Christmas is one they will never forget!

The illustrations are stunning.

RAR is featuring this book during one of their Christmas School weeks this December.

If the readers have been to NYC, they will have fun identifying sites in NYC.

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library. 

Bad Badger: A Love Story by Maryrose Wood illustrated by Giulia Ghigini*

 The opening lines made me groan and almost not want to read it (reminds me of our current culture-"Septimus was a badger.  Or was he? This was the heart of the matter.") But I continued reading because Sarah Mackenzie recommended it as one of her books of the week on RAR.

It is a delightful story about a Badger who is atypical and his friendship with a seagull, Gully. Despite their differences, they learn that being a friend requires sacrifice and unselfishness. I loved the chapter subheadings-One-'A Visit from a Friend--Septimus was not terribly used to company.'

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library.

She Heard the Birds by Andrea D'Aquino

 The Story of Florence Merriam Bailey -Pioneering Nature Activist

A general overview about Florence Bailey and how her love for nature and birds was fostered, developed, and then applied.

The illustrations were not my taste in art. I did, however, love the two-page spread of the birds with their songs/calls underneath them. 

-Borrowed from the library.

The Bird, the Frog, and the Light by Avi illustrated Matthew Henry

 I usually find Avi's stories engaging. I, however, was not overly impressed with this story.

A pompous frog demands that bird utilizes its friendship with the Sun to fetch one of the Sun's rays to shine on frog's domain. The bird bids his wish. The ray, however, reveals who the frog really is.

-Borrowed from the library.

Birdlore The Iridescent Life of Florence Merriam Bailey by Jess Keating illustrated by Devon Holzwarth*

World magazine reviewed this book in their latest issue, which prompted me to borrow and read this book. 

Ms. Keating reveals how Florence Merriam Bailey's love for birds developed from her childhood through adulthood and how she dedicated her life to sharing this passion with others. Her impact has not been noticed or celebrated. She created the first known field guide to American birds in 1889!

*Highly recommend. I love how at the end of the book Ms. Holzwarth created a spread of all of the birds incorporated in the illustrations and requested the readers to search for them throughout the book.

-Borrowed from the library.

Knight Owl and Early Bird by Christopher Denise*

 Knight Owl is fabulous at his job as Night Knight Owl. When an admirer lands in his rooms chirping away with comments and questions as he is about to drift off to sleep, Owl's compentency is compromised. How can he maintain his reputation when he is exhausted by his annoying new "friend", Early Bird? Eventually he explodes in frustration and sends her away. Can the relationship be restored?

*Highly recommend this sequel to Knight Owl.

-Borrowed from the library.

A Raven Named Grip by Marilyn Singer illustrated by Edwin Fotheringham*

How a Bird Inspired Two Famous Writers, Charles Dickens and Edgar Allan Poe

Another fascinating biography!

Charles Dickens kept numerous ravens as pets. He named all of them Grip (then Grip II & then Grip III). Poe read Dickens's novel, Barnaby Rudge, which included a pet raven and loved the story. When Dickens and his wife visited the United States, Poe was able to meet and talk with Dickens about this novel and the raven. This raven inspired Poe to write his  poem, "The Raven", which finally made him famous (but not rich!).

*Highly recommend for the unusual tidbits of history that one learns about these two famous authors.

-Borrowed from the library.

 

Bird Girl by Jill Esbaum illustrated by Rebecca Gibbon**

 This picture book reveals how as a child Gene Stratton-Porter loved birds and would figure out methods to observe them closely in their natural habitat. Ms. Esbaum then parallels Mrs. Stratton-Porter's childhood interests with her pursuits and accomplishments as an adult. The author's note and "more about Gene Stratton-Porter" sections were especially interesting. A list of all the books Mrs. Stratton-Porter wrote is included in the back.

The illustrations are whimsical. I loved the endpages (eggs and feathers).

I read The Keeper of the Bees and just bought Freckles two weeks ago at a used bookstore. 

**Highly, highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library.

more books by Sam Usher**

 I love this author/illustrator. 

The story lines are simple but promote imagination and delight in the every day. Some extra appeals-that each book focuses on the boy's relationship with his granddad, the stacks of books, the meals/teas they share.

The boy and his granddad cat sit and attend a wild cat party. In the next book they help a bird and finally find a place where he will remain. Both are from his Nature Quartet.

**Highly, highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library.

How to Find a Bird by Jennifer Ward illustrated by Diana Sudyka**

 With humor and practical advice, Ms. Ward offers young readers and beginning birders tips on how to find birds. Once again I would love to frame some of the pages' illustrations. Ms. Sudyka's art is charming (I especially love the endpages).  Her illustrations greatly enhance the story and the text.

**Highly, highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library.

The Delightful Horror of Family Birding by Eli J. Knapp illustrated by John Rhett*

 In my alma mater's "newsletter", I read about this book and knew I HAD to read it. After borrowing it via inter-lib. loan, a few chapters in, I knew I wanted to own it and returned it, unfinished. I finally put aside other books and read it in two days. Dr. Knapp and I attended the same college (I don't think we ever talked??), and Professor Rhett, the illustrator for this book, was my art professor. I loved reading a book that was created by two people I "knew".

Dr. Knapp engages readers with humorous yet philosophical essays about birds and nature. His puns are funny and "groany" at the same time! As I read, I would chuckle over a sentence or his crazy experiences in nature. I am glad to own this book and will be one I would reread. How I wish I could return to "my" college and take Dr. Knapp's ornithology course and go birding with him!

*Highly recommend.

Considerations: Evolution & old-earth views are treated as fact. God is not mentioned much in the essasy although he gives Him ultimate thanks in the acknowledgements.

On the Frontier with Mr. Audubon by Barbara Brenner*

 Ms. Brenner creates an account of John James Audubon and his thirteen-year-old trainee/assistant, Joseph Mason, as they travel the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers for eighteen months. Together they observe, shoot, and draw birds. Using an unedited dairy of Audubon's, Ms. Brenner includes only actual incidents. Although the conversations are fictional, she based them on facts. I found this biography extremely interesting. Some readers may be upset how Audubon shoots or wounds some birds so he can draw them.

*Highly recommend for junior high and older.

Considerations/warnings: Mr. Audubon's dad had relations with a woman who was not his wife. The woman died soon after Audubon was born. His father's wife raised him with much love. Two swear words, killing birds in order to draw them, Mr. Audubon uses snuff, some people become drunk, Mr. Audubon becomes very friendly with a teenage girl whom he is tutoring (he is fired from this position because of his over-friendliness).

Little Christmas Tree by Jessica Courtney-Tickle

 I enjoyed Ms. Courtey-Tickle's illustrations in The Little Blue Cottage so much that I requested another book illustrated by her. This interactive book focuses on the wildlife around an evergreen tree and also serves as a mode to reinforce color knowledge with toddlers.

-Borrowed from the library.

Palace of Books by Patricia Polacco*

 When Patricia moves from her grandparents' farm into town, she struggles to adjust. She is also in the lowest reading group--all by herself.  However, birding with her class and discovering John James Audubon's art offer her hope and delight amidst the challenges. 

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library.

Flute's Journey written and illustrated by Lynne Cherry

 The Life of a Wood Thrush

Just last week my thirteen-year-old, who is a birder, mentioned  how the wood thrush's song is his favorite. When I heard this book recommended on a podcast a day later, I requested it from the library for him and me to enjoy.

The illustrations are lavish and breath-taking. My son loved identifying the birds in the main illustrations and the borders. Ms. Cherry follows a wood thrush from Costa Rica to Maryland. What turned my son and me off to the narrative was the strong environmental push/preaching. Otherwise, the writing is superb and interesting. 

-Borrowed from the library.

The Strange Birds of Flannery O'Connor by Amy Alznauer illustrated by Ping Zhu

 Over the past ten years I have read about Flannery O'Connor in numerous blogs and articles. I have not yet read any of her stories or writings. This biographical picture book heightens my interest in her and her writing.

This book focuses mainly on her creativity as a young child and then her determination to write despite Lupus overtaking her body. The bold, somewhat strange, over-sized illustrations depict Flannery's personality.

-Borrowed from the library.

The Trumpet of the Swan by E.B. White Audio (read by E.B. White!)**

 My thirteen-year-old and I listened to this audio book during our weekly trips for his medical appointments. Although we did not think E.B. White was the most enthusiastic narrator, he did not turn us off from listening. Mr. White is a superb writer. The Trumpet of the Swan is my favorite out of the three novels he wrote. 

Louis, the mute swan, learns to read, write, and play the trumpet so he can win his true-love's affections. He also works off to pay his father's debt. . .his father flew into a music store and stole a trumpet for his son!

My son and I laughed out loud often at the father's monologues. We loved the last chapter-an example of Mr. White's astute writing ability. A lot of songs are mentioned throughout the novel. It would be fun to listen to all of the songs. 

**Highly, highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library (I own the actual novel.)

For the Birds by Peggy Thomas illustrated by Laura Jacques

 The Life of Roger Tory Peterson

A comprehensive book about Mr. Peterson's life- his development and love for nature, birds, and illustrating. It also reveals his impact on nature guides and environmental concerns for birds. The surfeit of bird-related similies and metaphors was a turn off for me. The illustrations are lavish and beautiful.

-Borrowed from the library.