Mama Built a Little Nest

PreS-Gr 3—A practically perfect science picture book. Ward features a different kind of bird's nest on each spread, with a four-line rhyming verse suitable for reading aloud on the left-hand pages, and a few sentences offering more information, at a higher reading level, on the right. Jenkins's colorful cut-paper collages, set against white backgrounds that emphasize their attention to detail, illuminate each of the birds' creations. Readers will find nests ranging from the tree-hole cavities of woodpeckers to the scrape nests of falcons to the astonishing woven nests of weaverbirds, and even some that challenge readers' assumptions about what a nest is, such as the emperor penguin egg's "nest" on top of the father's feet. Equally excellent for classroom or storytime, this harmonious blend of text and illustrations executes a simple concept beautifully, in a manner that allows readers of various ages to approach the book in different ways.—Kathleen Kelly MacMillan, Carroll County Public Library, MD