Birds

Gr. 4^-6. Part of the First Field Guide series, this visually appealing, informative book offers basic facts, such as how to tell birds apart and how they fly, followed by two-page spreads on 50 common birds of North America, which feature large, beautifully colored photos of each bird, accompanied by a few smaller pictures of its kin.

Gr 4 Up-Two welcome additions to nature study that are not strictly field guides per se. Beginning with descriptions of ornithology and entomology, the authors invite young people to become aware of and familiar with the natural world. With sharp, clear full-color photos (some spectacular, some disappointingly small), birds and insects are described, classified, and placed in their habitats. Birds covers identification marks; eating, mating, and nesting habits; migration; and endangered status. Insects provides similar information plus cautions against those insects that bite or sting. The photos greatly magnify the size of each species. Both volumes do include useful sections of photos for quick identification while on hikes, etc. A glossary of technical terms, lists for further reading, organizations, videos, software, and Web sites are appended. These inviting and easy-to-use titles will deservedly be popular.-Kathleen McCabe, East Meadow Public Library, NY (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.