Every Day Birds

PreS-Gr 2—This book introduces children to 20 common North American birds via simple, rhyming verses that highlight the avian species' appearances and/or behaviors ("HERON fishes with his bill./SPARROW hops in brown./MOCKINGBIRD has many voices./PIGEON lives in town.") and clear, often life-size cut-paper illustrations. Set against predominantly solid backgrounds, the expert paper-cuts are bold and eye-catching, capturing the texture and telltale characteristics of the birds' plumage. While all of the illustrations are aesthetically pleasing, not all of the subjects appear to be to scale in the pairings, and the distinctive blue jay and American goldfinch are referred to merely as "Jay" and "Finch," respectively. A four-page visual glossary provides additional information. With this book and possibly a simplified field guide in hand, kids in the primary grades can sharpen observation skills and begin to learn a bit about their feathered neighbors.