Hawk Rising

A red-tailed hawk hunts as his chicks wait in a nearby cedar tree and two human children observe from their house and backyard. Floca's illustrations in a classic ink and watercolor style accompany Gianferrari's sensory, poetic text, setting the suburban scene and offering a dynamic, naturalistic depiction of the fierce predator and its behavior. As Father Hawk glides up, down, and around and has several failed hunting attempts throughout the day, perspectives and colors shift, presenting breathtaking bird's- and child's-eye views of sunrises and sunsets, scuttling prey, the children's neighborhood, and more. The second-person text, rhythmic, alliterative and suspenseful, compares the humans to hawks ("High in a backyard cedar they sit. / High from the window you watch"). Hand-lettered sound effects ("Keee-EEER, Keee-EEER") contrast with the spiky, serious typeface and further link the visual and textual story lines. A squirrel's demise places the narrative firmly in the real world; and facts about hawks, provided alongside a bibliography and additional resources in the back matter, invite readers to watch for birds of prey in their own neighborhoods: "Whether you live in the country, the city, or the suburbs, you too can spot a red-tailed hawk!" Visually stunning and informative. elisa gall