Rita Gray

First of all, the illustrations are SUPER John Klassen-y. The color palette is so similar to [b:Sam and Dave Dig a Hole|20708761|Sam and Dave Dig a Hole|Mac Barnett|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1400887343s/20708761.jpg|39789300] that these books could be siblings.

This book has lots and lots of onomatopoeia birdsong, which I think would make it fun read-aloud if you're up for that kind of thing. It's relatively rare to find a good non-fiction picture book for story time, but this would work for preschoolers.… (more)

Exploring the calls of various avian species, the gently rhyming narrative of this lovely work of picture-book natural history continually returns to the question of the nesting bird - a robin - and what sound she makes. Her silence reveals something to the attentive listener and reader: namely, that she is sitting upon her eggs. Eventually, of course, there will be something to hear, as the baby birds begin to hatch...

I appreciated the structure of author Rita Gray's text in Have You Heard the Nesting Bird?, as it highlights the calls of various birds, using both descriptive text and onomatopoeia, while continually returning to the titular question about the nesting bird. This really drives home the central message here, about nesting birds staying quiet, in order to protect their eggs and baby birds. The afterword, written as an interview with one such bird, provides more detailed information about this subject. The accompanying artwork from Kenard Pak is lovely, created using a subtle earthy palette, and beautifully capturing the delicate charm of each bird depicted. All in all, a sweet little book, one which communicates its informational message in an engaging way, and one that I would recommend to young bird and nature lovers.… (more)