Why am I reviewing a kids’ book? Because I’ve found one that is superbly and accurately written and illustrated. I test-drove it with my two-year-old, and it cruised along smoothly. If you don’t have a two-to-six-year-old ((the age range for which this book is appropriate), use the kid next door, or down the street, or grandkids. Better yet, make an excuse to contribute a copy to your local library. You will enjoy the art and humor, maybe learn a new bird or two or at least learn something about the biology of some old friends!
Each page of The Bird Alphabet Book is devoted to one letter and is illustrated by a bird whose name begins with that letter. For example, “A” is for Atlantic Puffin and is illustrated by a group of Atlantic Puffins on a rocky cliff overlooking the sea. Of course, one of them has a mouthful of fish—arranged with head and tail alternately protruding from the Puffin’s beak as is typical of puffins. Pallotta throws in a bit of humor, and a good lesson, by presenting “B” for bat, but recanting with an explanation for why bat are not birds. The red-footed and Blue-footed Boobies replace the bat. Some choices are naturals: “R” is for Roadrunner. Others are not such likely picks: “W” is for White-faced Scops-Owl. “X”? “X” is for… well I’ll let you read it for yourself.
—Birder’s World
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