Bring On the Birds
A simple, rhyming text and bright, bold, color illustrations introduce young readers to exotic and familiar birds in their natural habitats. Children will learn that whether a bird is swooping, whooping, racing, or riding that all birds have feathers and hatch from eggs. At the back of the book, readers can find small pictures of each bird along with information about the birds’ unique features and where they can be found in the world.
Pennsylvania Center for the Book Awards
Book Activities & Discussion Ideas
Before reading, tell children that the book is about birds and to watch to see if any of the pictures of the birds are like the birds that they have seen in real life. On repeated readings of the book, invite children to join in with the simple rhyming pattern, and even to mimic the birds (pretend dive for diving birds, cover eyes for hiding birds, etc.). After reading, children could design their own bird with crayons, colored construction paper, and glue that could be added to a group collage of birds.
This book is a great example of a title that can be used to encourage children to read along with their families. The reader can point to each word as it is read, helping children connect the printed word to the spoken word. The reader can also ask children to point out the feature in the picture that is being described in the words (e.g., point to the bird’s large red chest for the page that says “birds with puffy chests”). This technique helps children understand that print conveys meaning. If time allows, have parents practice these methods by reading to one another.