Blue Jays

Gr 2–5—This series mixes hands-on bird-watching information with species details. The books share basic information about each bird, send readers out to look for birds, and suggest projects, such as birdhouse-building and imitating bird calls, that will encourage more encounters with our feathered friends. Full pages of single-column text are broken up with small, vivid photos and "Trek Talk" and "Safari Tip" insets. Bulleted lists of what to wear and bring on a safari as well as supplies and steps for the activities are incorporated. Readers are instructed to journal and photograph their work as well. The titles by Mara contain advice on what todo when encountering a sick bird. One slight error in the conversion between ounces and kilograms mars Woodpeckers. The nice integration of bird-watching information sets these noteworthy titles apart.