What Makes a Bird?

Reviews / Votes

For ornithologists of 6 or 7+, this gorgeous, brightly graphic guide to bird essentials features an array of beaks, birdsong, habitats and nests, described in absorbing and accessible language by a popular wildlife presenter. -- Imogen Russell Williams * The Guardian, 'Best Children and teens roundup - the best new picture books and novels' * An extensive gallery of birds across the globe, with quick notes on their types, habitats, and behaviors.
Compellingly noting that over millions of years birds have proven able to "handle whatever the planet throws at them" and that they're found in abundance on every continent, Perera highlights both their universal characteristics (wings, beaks, feathers, two legs) and the many adaptations that have allowed them to survive in nearly every kind of habitat from oceans to cities and polar regions. Galbany follows suit with a bountiful gallery of species, all depicted in stylized but precise detail and in natural settings and attitudes but with plenty of inserted close-up views of distinctive beaks, nests, patterned feathers, and anatomical structures. Many pages do have a crowded look, but that shouldn't deter young naturalists from poring over this mix of fascinating facts and brightly colored bird portraits....
A broad addition to the flock of bird books. * Kirkus Reviews * This book explores birds and their history, anatomy and features, habitats, and lifestyles while interspersing those topics with facts about various species and explanations of how birds use their unique features to survive in the wild. Readers can find useful tools for birdwatching, a step-by-step process of identifying a bird, and actions that everyone can take to help protect these fascinating animals. [...] Beautiful images make it easy for readers to forget that this is a reference book for birds and birding as the vibrant colors and the artistic depiction of different birds and their respective habitats make this an incredibly compelling book to peruse. [...] VERDICT This title is a lovely and valuable resource for independent readers looking to learn more about birds and birdwatching in classroom settings. -- Alexis Winters * SLJ Review *