Tuesday, April 16, 2019

A Giveaway Is Flying Your Way!

        Thanks to Peachtree Publishers, I have the pleasure of offering a giveaway of this marvelous book, Superlative Birds by Leslie Bulion and Robert Meganck. With poems that vary (just like birds) in using the facts to tell about the birds who are the biggest, loudest, stinkiest, fastest, and more, here is the book for bird lovers, enhanced with extraordinary illustrations, both realistic and humorous. When I began to write this post, I marked too many pages I wanted you to see, looked again and chose only a few favorite parts. That's the challenge when reviewing a wonderful book, choosing what to share!


     
              Added to the book filled with poetry and science is a small chickadee guide, the Master of Ceremonies! Let me introduce you.




    Among the amazing facts, the reason for our chickadee guide is that scientists have found "that many other species of birds and some species of other animals living near chickadees can understand chickadee calls--especially warnings about predators in the area." They even lengthen their calls to show that a threat may be large!  Still another intriguing thing about these chickadees is that they can enlarge a part of their brains per a need. The part that needs to remember where those seeds are stored enlarges, or if the memory of a mating call is needed, that part enlarges. Fantastic, right?
          Robert Meganck's chickadee cartoons add to the information with its comments given in speech bubbles. On the page sharing about the wandering albatross, with the widest wingspan of all birds, a bat spreads its wings, too, showing the fact that not only birds have wings. Another page tells about the shrike, with Leslie's poem titled "Ghastly Pantry", a poem showing a way that this bird stores its food. It hangs it on a wire fence or thorny tree to allow it to rot until it softens, until the shrike's small beak can eat!

            Favorite birds, so hard to choose! While I don't know much about many birds, I do know most names, but then I turned the page to hear about the Timberdoodle and to read "Timberdoodle Blues". Here's the beginning:

                                           "Look at me. I've got eyes set above my brain,
                                            Not behind, on the sides–but 'above' my brain.
                                            Looks wierd, but I see three-sixty and can't complain."

It can see 360 degrees without moving its head!


This time, Bulion focuses on the looks, but the poems can show unique traits or behavior examples. Here is one wonderful double-page spread so you can learn about one more bird, enjoy Leslie's unique poems,  as well as Robert's gorgeous digital illustrations.



         The poems are delightful to read aloud, sometimes with rhythm and rhyme, sometimes free-verse, and for a few, forms unique to the bird's geographical area, like the tendi, "a four-line stanza with Arabic origins used in traditional Swahili poetry." for "A Billion Queleas".
         






















           There is something special in every part of the book. The above spread is a picture of the opening inside cover, showing the birds inside with their unique description. The back two covers name the bird!

          Added in the back matter are a glossary, Poetry Notes about each poem, and additional resources to learn more about the world of birds. Bird lovers everywhere need to add this "superlative" book to their collections!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

15 comments:

  1. Ruby-throated hummingbird! This looks like a fabulous book. I love the title and the cover.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Liz, it is a treasure! Happy to see you here!

      Delete
  2. I'm a big fan of birds. Still watching our wood duck nest box. But I do love a great blue heron. They are majestic.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Terrific to hear from you, Margaret. This book is a special one, poetry and information! I've been waiting to hear about the wood ducks! Thanks!

      Delete
  3. Linda, thank you for this wonderful review of Leslie Bulion's book. I had the privilege of seeing her at the Peachtree booth at NCTE18. You started out with the chickadee which is my favorite bird name although they do not frequent Long Island, I love hearing about them.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Happy to hear that you saw her, Carol. I hear chickadees every morning, wishing I could send you a few! Thanks for coming by to enter!

      Delete
  4. What a great cover! My son immediately noticed the bird on top of another's head :) Sounds like a fun read overall!

    ReplyDelete
  5. PS my favorite bird is the cardinal

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for coming by. Yes, the cover and 'all' the inside is wonderful!

      Delete
  6. Whoa! This book sounds amazing, combining two of my biggest loves--poetry and birding! Be still my heart! I don't think I can pick one favorite bird, but some of my favorites are kingfishers, great blue herons, and ruby-throated hummingbirds. I'm fascinated by all of them and learning more all the time.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Nice to see you here, Molly. Yes, I agree, hard to choose a favorite!

      Delete
  7. I love so many birds, but the great blue heron has to be a long-time favorite. I'll never forget seeing one fly up right in front of us on a walk when daughter lived in Ithaca. So majestic!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Happy you came by, Ramona. What a special story about that heron. When growing up, I was told that it meant great good luck to even spot a great blue heron! (I'm always watching for them when I'm near the water.)

      Delete

Thanks for visiting!