Children's Guide to Arctic Birds

February 1, 2015
An Arctic ecologist introduces a dozen bird species that take advantage of the food available in the brief but bountiful summer to nest and raise their young in the far north. After a brief introduction and description of bird measurements, as well as the feathers, bills and feet that distinguish them, the author presents her examples, from cliff-dwelling thick-billed murres to tundra-hopping snow buntings. She includes ducks, a loon, swan, hawk and owl, a member of the grouse family called a ptarmigan and the ubiquitous raven. Each species gets a spread: A detailed, layered painting showing the bird (or birds) in a bit of its Arctic habitat sits opposite the text. As the title indicates, it reads like a field guide. A general description is followed by neatly organized facts: where to see them, what they eat, how they sound, nests, eggs, chicks and winter habitat. Length and wingspan are given in centimeters. Where a traditional field guide might provide a Latin name, the author uses Inuktitut, recognizing that these are birds of the Inuit world. The writer also introduces (and defines) other interesting but probably unfamiliar words such as "polynyas," sea-ice openings where common eiders winter, and "cygnets," baby swans. She warns against disturbing nests. Interesting for bird lovers whose homes are in temperate climes as well, especially those who might see some of these intriguing Arctic nesters in winter. (Nonfiction. 8-15)

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March 1, 2015

Gr 3-5-Though presented in a familiar and approachable picture book format, this look at Arctic birds is a real gem. Saturated with information, it covers 12 different birds, including the common eider, the Arctic tern, and the tundra swan. Readers will discover where these birds are found, what they eat, where they go in the winter, and the sounds they make, as well as information on nesting and eggs. The "Listen For" section is particularly interesting, as Pelletier effectively communicates the birds' calls in writing. There is a "Feathered Fact" about each species. Additional content includes a discussion of bird feet, bills, and feathers, as well as an illustration depicting all these birds' comparative sizes. Accurate and teeming with life, color, and texture, the illustrations add further to the book's appeal, and even the end pages are well stocked with useful images. Fans of Steve Jenkins's work and Annette LeBlanc Cate's Look Up!: Bird-Watching in Your Own Backyard (Candlewick, 2013) will enjoy this title. VERDICT A well-designed and engaging addition to any library's avian collection.-Taylor Worley, Springfield Public Library, OR

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