Monday, January 12, 2009

Bird Books for Kids

When my older son was three and a half, he fell in love with pirates. The obsession lasted through his fourth birthday. One day I stopped at the library in search of pirate stories appropriate for a 3 year old. The librarian very nicely took me to the non-fiction section and handed me books about the myths and legends of Blackbeard. And there was a book about all of the finer features of a pirate ship. Not really three year old appropriate. I went home, scoured the library website and found at least a dozen picture books, ABC books and other simple stories that would appeal to a three year old boy.

Today we had a strange repeat of two years ago. My youngest is OBSESSED with birds. I thought it was a passing fancy, but it has returned full force. He has a bird stuffed animal that must go to bed with him - he used to be "Yellow Bird" but has recently been rechristened "Yellow Baby Chick." He gets tucked in at night with a blanket and my son even suggests that he is the daddy bird. We have a kid's book about birds that he loves to look through. The other night he specifically asked for the page with the baby birds and I left him in bed staring raptly at the less than cute baby birds waiting for worms from their mother. He has Hush Little Ones which I find almost every morning open to the picture of the birds or the ducks.

So, back to the library we trekked today. I nicely asked the librarian - a different one - for books about birds. Her first question - non-fiction? Nope. I've got those. She looked at me a bit blankly; admittedly, it is probably not the most frequent request she gets. So, I suggested to her Make Way for Ducklings whose author I didn't know. She found that one and went back to her computer to search for others. A few minutes later she came by with Are You My Mother? A good bird book, but one we already own. That was it.

So, I did retreat to the non-fiction section. My son, who is not usually a big book lover, plopped down on the floor and stared intently at a story about abandoned ducklings that a scientist raised. He looked at every page, asked me a dozen questions, and asked to bring it home.

But, I'm looking for other good stories. Does anyone have any suggestions? I will happily search through the library catalog, but I know that someone out there can think of the perfect book to appeal to my yellow bird loving son.

Thanks!

3 comments:

Dani said...

http://www.amazon.com/Duck-Bike-David-Shannon/dp/0439050235
"Duck on a Bike" by David Shannon (one of my favorites children's writer/illustrators.) I just brought this home last night, and then read your post today.

http://www.amazon.com/Dont-Let-Pigeon-Drive-Bus/dp/078681988X/ref=pd_sim_b_13

"Don't let the Pigeon Drive the Bus." These are short, smart, and funny.

http://www.amazon.com/Owl-Moon-Jane-Yolen/dp/0399214577

Owl Moon, but another favorite author Jane Yolen.

http://www.amazon.com/Sleepy-Owl-Marcus-Pfister/dp/1558589058/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1232632809&sr=1-6
"Sleepy Owl" Cute and simple.

Stellaluna is about bats, but they have birds in it.

http://www.amazon.com/Littlest-Owl-Caroline-Pitcher/dp/1561486140/ref=pd_sim_b_3

"The Littlest Owl" is so cute, and the illustrations are gorgeous.

Dani said...

http://www.amazon.com/Duck-President-Doreen-Cronin/dp/1416958002/ref=pd_sim_b_njs_2
"Duck for President." Funny and cute.

http://www.amazon.com/First-Caldecott-Theodor-Geisel-Awards/dp/1596432721/ref=pd_sim_b_36
"First the Egg." Neat, but simple with die cut pages.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_b?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=bear+feels+sick

The "Bear" series all features a wren. (We love this because we have a neice named "Wren.")

http://www.amazon.com/Duck-Randy-Cecil/dp/0763630721/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1232633508&sr=1-1
"Duck." I just like this one. It's got a classic feel.

Ok. I will stop. ;)

Jehnie B said...

Thank you Dani! Some great suggestions. A couple I have heard of, but lots I haven't. We're headed back to the library this afternoon so I'll see what I can find.