Review by Booklist Review
Hawk Mother (2017) featured Sunshine, a red-tailed hawk injured by hunters and cared for by Hagedorn, who watched the bird adopt two baby chickens and raise them as her own. In this sequel, Hagedorn takes two fertile eggs rescued from a red-shouldered hawk's nest and places them in Sunshine's nest. After they hatch, their foster mother cares for them attentively, while Hagedorn avoids contact with them, a precaution that may save their lives after they're released into the wild. The chicks watch Sunshine intently, following her example and learning survival skills. Initially, they mimic her clucking sounds, but later they will vocalize like other red-shouldered hawks. The story follows the young birds into adulthood when they fly away, but they occasionally return. Animal lovers will be captivated by their first sight of a soft, fuzzy light-gray chick standing beside its sibling's egg as if waiting for it to hatch. The text offers information within the context of a true story, illustrated with one or more color photos on each page, while additional reflections appear in the back matter.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Horn Book Review
In this nonfiction picture-book sequel to Hawk Mother, red-tailed hawk Sunshine is unable to mate because she was shot, leaving her unable to fly. Coauthor Hagedorn, a zoologist, cares for the bird and brings her two fertile eggs. In clear language, she and Garnsworthy lay out how Sunshine mothers the hawk chicks from a competing hawk species. The book's dynamic color photography enhances the story. A note about the birds is appended along with more information about hawks and a glossary. (c) Copyright 2025. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
