Birds Books

I was so glad I bought this book for my kids. My 3 year old and I look at it nearly every night (it's his first choice). After only a few times, he was able to help me name all of the birds. He has even recognized one or two in our yard. It's an easy read, with great illustrations, a great book for beginning bird watchers!

Birds, Nest ,and Eggs Mel Boring Reading Level 4.8

Birds, Nests, and Eggs is an excellent book. It is great for a book report or just to read for fun. It is about birds and what kind of tree they nest in. It also tells you what kind of calls they make. It shows you how long it takes for the eggs to hatch and when they learn how to fly. They show you how the birds trick you. They show you how to do some experiments. Again I strongly recommend it.

I purchased 5 books of this series for my five year old daughter for Christmas, as she wanted a "field guide" like her older sisters when exploring our 45 acres of woods. After reviewing these books before giving them, we decided to use them as part of our science program for our home school. These books have bright and colorful pictures, short accurate explanations of the animal, their habitat, eating habits, and even some of the popular anecdotes that go along with the animal. (For example, the myth about the stripes on the wooly bear caterpillar in relation to the length of winter) It has the appropriate warning for studying certain animals and tips on studying nature in general. What we enjoy most is that many of these animals can be found in our back yard to furthur study. Each book deals with three types of animal, such as Caterpillars,Bugs, and Butterflies. They are separated into sections dealing with each type. At the end of the section is a wonderful hands-on project the child can basically do on their own within the recommended age group (9-12) or with some assistance for a younger age group like my daughter. This particular one is a little different in that instead of having three sections, it is one section dealing with each type of bird, incorporating their nests and eggs, with the projects interspersed throughout. My 5 year old begs us to read these books to her and loves the projects. I highly recommend this book and others in the series for those who want their children to learn about nature and how to respect it.

Meredith was immediately interested in the guide and it has accompanied her on outings (so say her parents).

I love this book! It was written with a thorough grasp of the scientific aspects of matching your plants to the birds you want to attract, and creating mini-habitats where birds will feel welcome and secure. But this is obviously a labor of love too. The book is organized so that you can look up plants and birds separately, but it also helps you to understand how they relate to each other. Information about growing zones is included for each plant, so you can easily chose species suitable for your location. The line illustrations of birds are excellent-very artistic and spirited, and clear enough to make it easy to identify the birds in real life.

One pleasant surprise was how easy it change my boring backyard in an older suburb into a haven for many species of birds. A lot of the plants mentioned in the book were already there, including some I had planned to remove until I read this book. I gradually added many more bird-friendly plants, including a prairie garden which finches seem to love. The result was almost magical-the more things I planted, the more birds showed up! Another bonus was that if you have enough plants that birds like, you can get rid of conventional bird feeders-just give them a natural supply of food, and a birdbath or other water source, and you will be amazed at how many bird species you will see-all in your own back (or front) yard!

A fabulous book for beginning birders, Birdscaping your Garden acts as an all-purpose guide to identification, habitat, and feeding habits. Identification is aided by a short description as well as a black and white sketch and a full-color photo. Each two-page spread discusses one bird with details including migration and winter range, breeding range and behavior, nesting, and a short list of plants to use for bird food.
The feeding guide is garden and plant focused (rather than the typical hanging birdfeeder type focus) with the idea of using native plantings to attract and feed birds. Purchased seed options are rarely mentioned.
As organized and helpful as the individual page layouts are, the overall organization of the book is lacking. The reader is forced to browse through all 64 birds in the directory section to find what is being sought since the birds are not listed in any particular order. The book's lack of regional focus is also limiting and reduces the number of relevant entries to about 30 if you live in New Jersey, for example.
The final section of the book is a plant directory which is organized alphabetically by scientific name. The section includes photos and general cultural guidelines for plants that will shelter and feed the birds previously discussed. A list of "Birds Attracted" within the individual plant descriptions is a nice cross-reference with the bird directory section.
The dichotomy of the book should not put you off - it is clearly written and useful despite its overall lack of organization. There is no doubt it is valuable for creating a native, bird-friendly garden.

Want to "reform" your backyard? This book is a great place to start. A wonderful primer on birds and plants, this book is also a solid reference book. I highly recommend it for anyone who is interested in, or is serious about, creating a great place for the birds and the bees to hang out.

I first found this book at our local library and when I went to photocopy "a few pages" I realized I was about the copy the whole book so I decided to just buy the book for myself. It's terrific! It goes through all sorts of species of bushes and trees, indicates what type of wildlife is attracted to it, how they use it, etc. It has good pictures too. A real must have for the backyard gardener who wants to have some wildlife in their life. Highly highly recommended

The Birdwatchers is a delightful color picturebook written and illustrated by Simon James. It's the story of Jess, a young girl who discovers the joy of birdwatching with her grandfather. Showcasing simple, heartwarming caricature drawings, The Birdwatchers is about finding peace and happiness through sharing and observing the wonder of nature. The Birdwatchers would make a wonderful addition to any school or library picturebook collection for young readers.

"My granddad is a birdwatcher. He tells me birdwatching stories. He always says, "Jess, when I go birdwatching, things happen..." And our little narrator is intrigued with his tales. Sometimes, he tells her that when he makes drawings of the birds, they make drawings of him. The birds often help him find their names in his bird book, and they got all together early one morning and recorded the "dawn chorus." Granddad's stories are so fun and amazing that finally little Jess has to find out for herself. So one morning she goes birdwatching with her grandfather..... Simon James' gentle and engaging story is heartwarming, and complemented by playful and inviting illustrations is warm earthtones. Perfect for youngsters 4-8, The Birdwatchers is a captivating gem, with a humorous, surprise ending that you don't want to miss. Remember, when you go birdwatching, things happen...

I got this book for my older son who loves all sorts of animals. He quite enjoyed it but I was quite surprised when my little 18 month baby wanted to read it too. True, she loves birds. She loves to go down to the park close to our house and feed `duckies'. When there are birds in our backyard she'll point through the back window at them, until I look, saying all the while, `bir, bir'. Just a couple of days ago she took the book out of our little-person's book section, walked over to my wife, took the book that she was reading out of her hands and put "Birdwatchers" into her hands. She then crawled up the couch and sat herself down in my wife's lap, waiting for her to start reading the story. My son liked the last page of the book, but my little girl will look on each page for any little birds that are there. It is quite a good book for any bird loving child's library or adult too for that matter.

With evocative ink and watercolor drawings, all full-page, author-illustrator Simon James relates a touching story of the very special relationship between a little girl and her grandfather.

For sometime, Jess has been hearing stories from her grandfather about birdwatching. He says such intriguing things as "Jess, when I make drawings of the birds, sometimes they make drawings of me, too."

He says that birds help him find their names in his bird book, and that he gathered all the birds to make a "dawn chorus" for her.

The little girl can resist no longer. She goes birdwatching with her grandfather, but doesn't see anything at all. Furthermore, nothing happens - that is, until they reach the birdwatching hut.

Soon after that Jess has a "story" for him.

Sure to appeal to all youngsters who have the friendship of an older adult...

Sometimes more is less. That is how I felt about this book. Mr. Birkhead's entertaining story on how two German bird lovers attempt to create a red Canary would have made a perfect long (maybe two part) magazine article. But instead he chose to write this book.
Birkhead tells the story of how, back in the 1920's, Hans Duncker and Karl Reich conducted experiments with Red Siskin and Canary hybrids with the goal of transferring the Siskins red plumage genes into the Canary.
In addition to telling the details of the creation of today's Red-factor Canary, Birkhead gives the reader much insight into the history of bird keeping and breeding in general. For example, the reader learns the importance of German aviculture in creating different cage bird varieties; The history and evolution of other Canary breeds; Insight into how mutations occur and are perpetuated by animal breeders.
I am recommending this book to all bird breeders of different mutations. The book would be an appropriate addition to a Red-factor Canary breeder's library. The book should be interesting to anybody interested in how different breeds occur and are perpetuated by animal breeders.

This book is fantastic!! I couldn't put it down. It's not just about developing the red factor canary as one might think from the title. It is a history from the beginnings of canary keeping, Victorian times, and before, and up to the present in Germany, England, France, all over the world. You can read a thousand books on canaries and not have a fraction of the information here with truth and clarity. I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in bird history, cage bird breeding and keeping of canaries and finches. Tim Birkhead does an excellent job of telling the story and did a tremendous amount of research to present this fascinating true history.

I clicked onto Tim Birkhead's book A Brand New Bird, but half the information on this page is about a book by Alfie Kohn published in 1990. Amazon folks, would you please get this right?

"A Brand-new Bird" is the entertaining story of how two German bird lovers spent most of their spare and life time experimenting to create a red canary. Hans Duncker (1881-1961) and Karl Reich (1885-1970) had in common a keen interest in bird breeding. Duncker, however, had been the more academic of both and is considered as one of the first avian geneticists. Reich on the other hand had highly praised skills in rearing and cross-breeding captive birds. He had been one of the very few breeders holding a strain of canaries singing Nightingale songs. Both conducted many experiments to hybridize Red Siskins and canaries for getting the formers "red-plumage-genes" into a canary brood. In the end they actually never succeeded beyond an orange plumage of their canaries, and it was later up to the Englishman Jack Swift to breed a truly crimson red canary. Nevertheless, Duncker and Reich did some amazing pioneer work towards the understanding of inheritance in birds.
Besides the main story Tim Birkhead skilfully draws a historical overview on bird catching and bird song contests, explains the etymology of bird trappers' jargon, gives many details on the early domestication of canaries, illustrates pre-war Germany, but also analyses well Duncker's involvement in Nazi thoughts and Eugenics. The book is well and thrillingly written. One actually wonders how so many facts and different aspects were possible to be included without loosing the red line towards the climax at the end of the book. This is a truly entertaining and informative book not only for bird breeders, ornithologists, geneticists and academics, but also for anybody with an interest in human culture and time history. It also remains the only modern book so far to stress bird keeping and its major influence on the understanding of ornithology and general biology, respectively.

Frank Steinheimer, Ornithology - Museum für Naturkunde, Berlin.

excellent book,written very simply and well organized.

This is a must book for the beginning Avian breeder. The information provided in this book is a must.

Ms Conzalez' book, Breeding Exotic Birds, is an absolute must for anyone keen on breeding these wonderful creatures. She is most knowledgeable on the subject and although concise, this book provides sufficient information to the beginner, not only to breed successfully, but also to control various common diseases, hand rearing babies, etc. Thanks to Ms Conzalez (and the African climate), we have never lost any babies - her book has become our "practice manual". I would highly recommend this book to anyone, even if only for a casual read.

I have read tons of books about breeding and caring for baby birds. As I was learning to breed and care for these little beings, I was overwhelmed at how many mistakes it was possible to make. Including overstretching the crop, sour crop and on and on. Ms. Gonzalez provides fixes for those items and more .. WITHOUT having to run to the vet for every little thing you have done wrong! She also provides breeding suggestions, incubation charts, and approximate feeding schedules from day 1 to weaning. This is the best book I have found which encompasses the all around needed advice to breed and hand-raise baby birds.

- very clear explanations of each family of squeezes

- discussion of how they are different from other families (Simple, vs Double, Squeeze without the Count vs ...)

- LOTS of examples

- LOTS of problems

- LOTS of variations (different types of squeezes in each family). For example different types (names/variations) of Double Squeezes


A fabulous book. There is so much there that you wont be able to remember many of them. Thats ok, start with just Simple squeezes. Then add Double or Strip Squeeze or anotehr family from the first few chapters.

Because of the nature of squeezes I would love a companion workbook with 500 problems. OR better yet a souped up set of deals for Bridge master.

A classic, 5 stars

I didn't use to know how to do or look for squeezes. Now I do. It may have come from playing more. It may have come from trying harder. I think it came from this book.

Of course, Watson covers squeezes, briefly. This book is all about squeezes, in a very engaging way. And while I may not be able to tell you the difference between a stepping-stone and a suicide squeeze, I now know what to look for in a squeeze, the distribution the opponents need, and how to actually perform at least simple squeezes whenever they present themselves.

The techniques are clearly presented, with lots of good examples. At the end of each section is a set of problems for the reader to solve. The book is entertaining to read, which is difficult for a book on Squeeze play!

The only drawback was since each chapter was specialized (i.e. Criss Cross Squeeze) the reader knows the exact technique required. It might have been betetr to have had a mixed problem set after every 3 chapters, so the reader wouldn't be sure if they had to perform a double squeeze or a simple squeeze.

Terence Reeses Squeeze Play Made Easy is also excellent.

Clyde Loves Bridge Squeezes Complete may have been a classic 40 years ago, but there are better books available today (like this one).

David Bird does a great job of introducing squeezes in a non-threatening, easy-to-follow manner. He explains the mechanics of the various types in a straightforward way and doesn't get hung up on the nitty-gritty technical details. Instead, he focuses on providing example hands that are followed by a thorough explanation and which clearly illustrate the principles being discussed. I especially enjoyed the "The Stars Come Out to Play" section of each chapter, which showcases hands played successfully by expert players using the various types of squeezes. The quiz hands at the end of each chapter are also well done and do a good job of reinforcing the lessons presented.

Originally published in 1917, reissued in 1987, now released again with a new introduction by Jeffrey R. Hansen, Buffalo Bird Woman's Garden presents an agricultural calendar year's activities as remembered by Buffalo Bird Woman, an accomplished Hidatsa gardener born around 1839. Buffalo Bird Woman's Garden was a doctoral dissertation by a man who believed "It is of no importance that an Indian's war costume struck the Puritan as the Devil's scheme to frighten the heart out of the Lord's annointed. What we want to know is why the Indian donned the costume, and his reasons for doing it (p.xix)." Wilson also went on to write Goodbird the Indian His Story and Waheenee: An Indian Girl's Story (biography of Buffalo Bird Woman, 1839-1921). Using biography to study a culture was effective because it highlighted the variety of traumatic cultural shifts, changes, and transmutations painfully experienced by Buffalo Bird Woman and her family. The use of empathy informs the dated, 'superior' dominant culture outlook. Buffalo Bird Woman's Garden has been called a classic anthropological document. It certainly is that and more. As a model of respectful viewing and learning, as a mirror of the complex lifeway of ;the agricultural Plains Indians, as a chronicle of human adaptation, survival and ingenuity in the face of cultural disenfranchisement, Buffalo Bird Woman's Garden sets the bar for the standard. In addition, it gives eloquent testimony to one of the enduring gifts of the Hidatsa - their varieties of corn, squash, beans, and sunflowers. Even more enduring, perhaps, is the contribution highlighted by Jeffrey Hanson: "buffalo Bird Woman's Garden is not the end, but the beginning. It is a foundation, a viewpoint, and it presents a cultural relationship with nature that we can all appreciate and from which we can all derive benefit. (p.xxiii). Buffalo Bird Woman's Garden describes planting, preparation, cultivating, harvesting and storing practices, as well as traditional songs and prayers sung to honor and encourage the garden's yield. Beautifully detailed drawings by her son Edward Goodbird illustrate Buffalo Bird Woman's descriptions of gardening and storing produce and other activities. It is easy to see that modern ethnologists and authors such as W. Michael and Kathleen O'Neal Gear drew fairly heavily from the information presented in Buffalo Bird Woman's Garden. This is an enduring testament to a lifeway revalued today perhaps more as it should be.

Nancy Lorraine, Reviewer

This is a Minnesota Historical Society reprint of the anthropological study done by Gilbert Wilson in 1917, originally published as "Agriculture of the Hidatsa Indians: An Indian Interpretation." Wilson was among the first of a new school of American anthropologists that felt Indian cultures should speak for themselves, and not be spoken for by "white man's" interpretations. Consequently, the book really is, as the subtitle says, "an Indian interpretation." Most of the text is translated directly from Buffalo Bird Woman's own words, complete with stories, jokes, and personal anecdotes about village life. By the time you are done reading it, you will feel as if you met her personally.

I bought it because I am a Minnesota gardener, so I wanted to see what tips I might pick up from the ways of the indigenous people. The book is rich with useful gardening lore, including diagrams of various tools and structures, along with detailed descriptions of the different kinds of beans, corn, and squash that the Indians grew. Plus, there are native recipes you can try.

I was surprised to learn that, when the Indians dried squash, they didn't use mature fruits with hard skins like we do today, but preferred to cut them when they were 4 days old -- at about 3 1/2 inches diameter. They were more tender that way, easier to slice, and they dried better. The best squashes were marked in the field and allowed to mature for seed.

I also found it interesting that the Indians kept the different colors of corn separate, not like the multi-colored "Indian corn" we buy today for fall decorations. Although Buffalo Bird Woman did not understand the science behind genetics, she and her fellow Hidatsa gardeners did notice that corn varieties will "travel" (her word) from one patch to another if different colors are planted too closely together. So, women with adjoining fields would agree to plant the same varieties side-by-side, to help prevent this "traveling."

The Hidatsa women also understood the principles of good seed-saving techniques, and carefully chose seed from the very best squashes and corn ears in the crop, thereby improving their strains from year to year. Composting, however, was apparently unknown. Leaves and brush were burned, not composted, and they regarded manure as a dirty substance to be removed from the garden. But the Hidatsa did know the value of fallowing, and would allow a less-productive field rest a minimum of two years to renew itself.

Some of the techniques in this book are still quite useful today. I have begun pre-spouting my squash seeds, and planting them in the SIDES of the hills instead of on top, to help prevent the heavy rains from damaging the seedlings. Some of the fencing designs have found their way into my rustic Minnesota garden, too.

This book is also a priceless resource for "living history" re-enactors or "back to the land" homesteaders who might want to know how to build a traditional corn-drying platform, a food-storage cache, a homemade rake, or any of the other tools used successfully for many centuries before the Europeans came here. Simply a delightful book!

This is a unique and irreplaceable book. In the early 20th century, the author interviewed Buffalo Bird, an old Hidasta Indian woman about Indian farming methods in the mid 19th century. The result is a primer on how the Indians grew corn and other crops on the Great Plains. Interspaced with the explanation of agricultural techniques are charming stories, songs, recipes, and ancedotes told by Buffalo Bird. She also describes how the Indians preserved their crop.

The Hidasta lived in North Dakota and this book is a primer on how to garden in the State without recourse to chemical fertilizers, pesticides, or motor powered equipment. The Hidasta grew five crops: corn, beans, squash, sunflower seeds, and tobacco. Their methods of cultivation, storage, and usage of each crop is described, usually with enough detail to be copied by the modern low-impact sustainable agriculturalist. A large number of illustrations and photographs supplement the text and show how the Indians built fences, dug storage pits, dried squash, and laid out their fields.

A good introductory essay introduces the Hidasta, Bird Woman, and the author to the reader. The whole book is only about 150 pages, but there's a wealth of cultural and agricultural information here presented in a charming and easy-to-digest format.

Smallchief

A "must have" for anyone who is interested in doing a garden using authentic Native American practices, as used in the tribes in the Missouri Valley area. Details on laying out the garden, maintaining it, food storage, construction of tools, etc. are all included with sufficient clarity for reproduction.

Carolina lives in an old school bus with her mother and baby sister. The family's poverty is poignant yet unsentimental. Despite her mother's objection, Carolina calls her Melanie instead of Mom, because "a real mom wouldn't live in a school bus. Real moms lived in real houses. They were married to the fathers of their children. So she kept calling Melanie Melanie." Carolina makes two new friends: one is an injured baby crow and the other is a Stefan, a wealthy boy just her age who has everything -- except the use of his legs. As always, Hobbs tells her story with clarity and courage. She refuses to dodge the hard questions but makes her characters (and her readers) face them and try to find answers. This is a powerful book about loyalty, friendship, and choices.

Bought another copy for another granddaughter.The first one loved the story so much she is rereading it. I highly recommend this book .

Carolina Crow Girl is a fast moving easy to read book! I got it two days ago and spent my Thursday reading and got through a lot more than half! I am not the fastest reader either! If you are looking for an easy to read quick little book this is definately a great pick! It shows how to get along with just enough. You don't need a mansion to go through life.

I reviewed this book before I allowed my Granddaughter to read.It was so well written.I enjoyed it as well as she did.Valerie Hobbs is a fine writer.She puts so much feeling into her books.Keep writing Valerie Evans Hobbs.I love your books.

The "Baby Loves Jazz" series, and Charlie Bird Counts to the Beat in particular, is a wonderful entertaining fun set. It's not too clear in the product description, but this is a board book with cd. We play Charlie Bird and Miles Crocodile the most often, I think because they are so varied in musical style from one number to the next, one color to the next. It's hard to not sing along to these great cds. They don't seem to be very well known, so I wanted to write a review encouraging you to buy these books for your own kids, or for baby gifts.


The pictures are great, the imagery in the songs is great, and I enjoy them as much as my son.

This series is wonderful! Our two-year-old absolutely loves the Baby Loves Jazz series. We bought a few to start out, then ended up buying the whole set. Two months after acquiring them, she is still enamored and requests to listen to them and read them every day. Her favorites? Well, these are the words we hear most often: "Mommy, read Duck and Miles?" or "Daddy, listen to Duck and Miles?" Philly Joe is also high on the list. I recommend them all. The books stand out on their own, but the music is what makes this series really shine. For example, on Duck Ellington's CD, he does a great Monk style on one track, then switches to great impression of Coltrane's classic quartet on the next track, with a very nice McCoy Tyner impression. Lots of variety and high quality make this series worthwhile (though I could have done without Louis Lion's potty tune). Don't forget the Go Baby Go CD as well (a stand-alone CD without a book), which is perhaps a notch above the music on the book CDs. The ABC tune is her favorite on that one.

My husband and I absolutely love this series. It was made with adults in mind. It's not too kidish. We have the Miles the Crocodile, Charlie Bird, Ella Elephant, & Duck Ellington so far. We also have the Baby Loves Jazz CD (go baby go). It's great too. My 1 year old loves them all. We've been listening to them since he was about 8 months old. He listens to them every morning and night before bedtime. He's even started dancing to them. Now that he's a little older. He brings me the books and we read the little stories. I also dubbed these for my nieces who are 3 & 6. They really like them too. You can't go wrong with these books that come with the cd's. They are an excellent teaching tool as well as entertainment.

I had originally bought this and the Ella the Elephant for my almost 2 year old. It turns out that my almost 4 year old loves the accompanying CD and "reading" along with the book just as much. My husband and I are jazz lovers, and after seeing Baby Loves Jazz at the Monterey Jazz Festival 2006, knew this was an awsome way to introduce our sons to this wonderful music.

This is my daughters favorite book- I must admit that it does get annoying when I have to read it several times a day but its worth it to foster a love of reading in her.

I don't know which is better, the foul puns or the eggstaoridinary artwork! Great addition to our school library's fairy tale remake section.

Using stuffed chicken mannequins (!) decked out in real chickel feathers. yarn wings, and clothes made from various fabrics (including her daughter's junior prom outfit), Mary Jane Auch creates wild muppet-like figures for this poultry re-telling of the Cinderella fairy tale. The costumes are, as they say, over the top, with day-glo like colored facial features from model clay, and an assorment of jewels and accessories that only glam-rock Barbie and Ken as the artist-once-again-known-as-Prince might wear. Herm Auch, her spouse, acted as art decorator and special effects photographer, digitally inserting photographs of the model chickens into sets that he designed. It's an artistic wonder, although the often busy and slightly cluckered--that is, cluttered--illustrations will not be totally comprehensible to the youngest readers.

Speaking of chicken puns, this book is fowl of them. Some are amusing but formulaic (Extravanganza becomes "eggstravaganza," Exasperating becomes "eggasperating," and there's also "eggscited," "eggsquisite," and "eggsactly"), but others evince show a clever and mischievous mind: Chickerella's not so nice stepsisters are named "Ovumelda" and "Cholestera," and the stepmother, who looks like a washed-up B-movie actor with a taste for gaudy leopard skin jumpers, ostentatious jewl-encrusted glasses, and gelled-out stringy black hair, seems like a bad egg from the start: "'Such a sweet girl,' said the step mother with a smile that gave Chickerella hen bumps."

The fairy goosemother arrives in the nick of time, a bird that I had mixed feelings about. Her Brooklynesque accent and pop psychology bit ("Don't wait for someone else to fix things, dearie. You take charge.") seemed just a bit contrived, but the goose as fairy is a wonderful incongruity, and get has some of the funniest lines ("I don't do transportation, dearie," she says, when Chickerella remembers that a coach will be waiting for her.) The Fowl Ball (nice for the baseball fan!) has all the trappings of a high school prom, with overdressed chickens, am obligatory blue-lit dance floor with a rotating crystal hung from the ceiling, and a vie piece band, "Penny Pullet abd the ROck Island Reds. Finally, there's a happy updated entrepreneurial conclusion, as the Prince not only matches the lost crystal egg with Chickerella, but discovers they have a common interest: Fashion--not matrimoney!

Toddlers and young grade-schoolers will like the wacky retelling of the familiar story, the irrepresible punning, and the wildly imaginative costumes. A more 3-dimensional look might have reduced the visual complexity for young toddlers, but the basic story is familiar enough that They won't get lost either. Although some of the "wow" factor seems aimed towards adults, one particularlyr nice touch shows that the Auchs were thinking of their audience. A potentially disturbing opening, "Chickerella had a wonderful childhood until one night when a fox got carried into the coop and carried off her mother," is written beneath a comforting picture of Chickerella's father reading to her. Still, this is another reason I would recommend Chickerella to somewhat older little kids, or at least those who have can comprehend the fantasy underpinning, the stylized fowl, and the eggstra dose of barnyard punnery.

My five year old daughter and I simply loved this book. We giggled through the whole thing. I came to Amazon to buy some more books by Auch. Try it - you won't be disappointed!