Have You Heard the Nesting Bird? Perfect Picture Book Friday

A beautiful tribute to birds and their songs, and the quiet that comes with waiting.

text copyright Rita Gray, 2014, illustrations copyright Kenard Pak, 2014, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Bird calls abound in this lyrical picture book that artfully contrasts the sounds that various birds make, with the quiet anticipation of a silent robin sitting on eggs in a treetop nest.  Through the use of rhyme,  repetition, and onomatopoeia, the author invites readers to learn about birds and the sounds they make, while simultaneously building a sense of anticipation for what might be going on in the robin’s nest.  This charming book finishes with delightful back matter, in the form of a Q & A conversation with the robin in the nest.

If the language in this book is captivating (and it is!), the artwork is equally enthralling. With the turn of a page, the perspective shifts, like a bird in flight. At times, the illustrations look down through the branches, onto the ground below. At other times, readers look up, onto a towering trunk and through soaring branches. Readers will love learning about birds, and they may just be inspired to go outside and experience the beauty and wonder of birds in their natural environment! Have You Heard the Nesting Bird? would make a perfect addition to any home or school library.

Title:  HAVE YOU HEARD THE NESTING BIRD?

Author:  Rita Gray

Illustrator:  Kenard Pak

Publisher:  Houghton. Mifflin Harcourt, 2014

Ages:  4-8

Themes:  Natural world, Birds, Bird songs, Life cycle

Here are a few activities that align with the themes of this book:

• Go outside and listen for birds. What sounds do you hear? Can you identify the bird from its sound? 
• Curious about what goes on inside a birdhouse? Construct a bird house with a view, using a cardboard box and a window in a quiet spot. Visit this website for detailed instructions.
• Conversation starters: “If you were a bird, which kind would you be?” “What would it be like to be a nesting bird? What challenges might they encounter?” “What did you learn about birds, from this book?”

Looking for more perfect picture books? Check out Susanna Leonard Hill’s website!