Look Up!: Bird-Watching in Your Own Backyard

Sometimes it seems weird to be constantly encouraging kids to go outside. After all, I'm a library (well, not me personally, but you know) and I want kids to read, something that usually happens indoors. Also, it feels a bit hypocritical because while I do have a mini-garden and walk almost every day, I'm really not much of an outdoors person. However, to me libraries are more than books and when I say that I don't mean they're all about digital stuff. I mean that the library is a starting point for exploring the world, something I try to emphasize in as many of my programs as possible.

What, exactly is the point of this long introduction? This book does an awesome job of piquing kids' interest in the outdoors and making what might sound show more like a boring hobby (bird-watching) something kids might try out a time or two.

At only 50 pages long, this may look like a lengthy picture book, but every nook and cranny is packed full of information; including the endpapers! The endpapers have a humorous guide to bird-watching; what to take (including the right kind of friend) where not to go, how to sit and watch. After introducing herself and explaining how she became interested in bird-watching, Cate jumps right in and talks about why, where, and how to look for birds in your own backyard, town, or city, record what you see, and especially identify different kinds of birds. She says right off that she's not an ornithologist, just an enthusiast, but the identification pictures of various birds are pretty clear, not to mention funny.

There were a couple pictures, like the wheel of brown birds, that weren't labeled and in some places there is so much information packed in that it's a little overwhelming and confusing, but overall this is a fun book about a hobby most kids don't think about and are unlikely to have tried.

Verdict: If you're looking for slightly unusual books to add to your hobbies and "stuff to do" section, this fits the bill. It's funny just to read on its own too, with lots of humorous comments from the birds and the author as well as facts about birds and their habitats.

ISBN: 9780763645618; Published 2013 by Candlewick; Borrowed from the library; Purchased for the library show less

Holy cow this book is stuffed with information. Cate warns everyone at the beginning of the book that she is not an ornithologist and then just pours out 51 pages of dense facts and illuminating illustrations. Her style is so witty--giving each type of bird their own personalities and explaining the behaviors that she is illustrating in a comic book like fashion, all the while passionately nerding out about birds. She starts by reassuring everyone that bird watching is not boring and skillfully shows that even living in a city, that we are surrounded with the wonders of nature. From here, we depart on a journey through basic bird identification, bird behavior, bird habitat, bird science. Its quite epic. Her bibliography is large to say show more the least. It can get a little busy at times. The pages are not so large and I think she could have used a little more page room to not overwhelm the reader but the nervous anticipation that she evokes gets you kind of jumpy and excited and you're not really sure why. show less

Whether you live in the heart of a city, in the suburbs, or out in the country, you can find birds to watch. Even if you can only observe a few different species of birds, there are still many characteristics to watch, including what they eat, the colors of males vs. females, what the babies sound like, what the adults sound like, and what their beak looks like. Bird-watching isn't the most exciting topic, but Cate has successfully made this book interesting. Using a combination of text and comic-book like illustrations, Cate provides a lot of information in an entertaining manner. Some pages have extra information on the bottom of the page labeled "Foot Note", "Wing Tip", or "Be a Birdbrain". The illustrations, done in ink and show more watercolor are amusing. Occasionally, a bird does something silly, like wear a hat or blow a horn. This would be a good book for kids that are nature lovers. Kids looking for an outdoor activity might appreciate this title as well. The combination of text and speech bubbles make this title accessible to kids as young as 8. The tone used in the writing has the feel of being for a younger audience. For that reason, I don't see kids much past 5th grade being interested in this title. show less

A chatty, fun, and quite informative introduction guide to bird watching. Compact, informal, and appealing with lots of great suggestions for observing, identifying, and drawing birds.

This is a book that is appropriate for all ages. The format reminds me of The Magic School Bus books but with better humor and less clutter. The book breaks down the 13 most important things to know to start bird-watching such as what to take, where to find birds, how to distinguish birds by color, head feathers, feathers, activity, etc. Each section is clear and written as if the writer is speaking directly to you. The author is witty and has meaningful illustrations to go along with her writing.

The comic-style on some pages is a bit too busy for my taste, but overall, a fun and informative introduction to birding with lots of good tips and a good conservation ethic.

Super fun, informative, humorous, and engaging. Most kids will love the format, though some may find it a little chaotic. Speech bubbles pop up everywhere, though they are funny nuggets and add a silliness to a otherwise staid topic (for non-birdwatchers, at least). Highly recommended.