The Secret Life of Birds: Science for the Little Guys

It's never to early to start learning about the natural world. However, sometimes it can be difficult to find science-oriented books for young ones that adequately communicate on their level. Today I am pleased to introduce three new arrivals at the library that are perfect for two- to five-year-olds about the lives of birds, with the added bonus of featuring the seasons as well.

With lovely illustrations and simple rhyming text, Mary Newell DePalma teaches the life cycle of a bird in "Two Little Birds." In the story we follow the spring hatching, development, and fall migration of two little birds.  As babies, "The little birds did what little birds do. They fed, they frolicked, they grew." And as they grow, they discover they can fly and even migrate! 

Even more sparingly, Jorey Hurley shows the lives of robins with her bold, simple, and pleasing illustrations in "Nest." Each page sports one word only, and one scene in the lives of a robin family. It starts with a nest in the spring, and we follow not only the growth of their baby, but of the tree that they live in. This book would be a great way to encourage your child to tell their own story with each page. And how much fun would it be to read the book, then go on a walk to spot robins in your neighborhood!

If you prefer to watch the ground instead of the sky, you can go on a killdeer hunt. This long-legged bird is the star of Jill Esbaum and Jen Corace's fun story, "I Hatched!" With a playful personality, a baby killdeer hatches and spends his/her first day discovering him/herself and his/her world. "Ta-da!/ My head pokes through./ At last, I'm hatched!/ Hello, what's new?" With some laughs along the way, you and your young reader will learn basic information about where killdeers live, what they eat, and their coloring.

--Andrea W., Headquarters