October 7, 2019
This picture book, informed by the author’s own decades of experience as a birder, follows Ava, her mother, and Big Al, the leader of their Christmas Bird Count team, as they travel around town recording the birds they see and hear for the annual winter census. A notebook sidebar itemizing Ava’s tallies is a welcome design element, allowing curious readers to keep track of the birds alongside the trio of citizen scientists. Back matter provides further details on the species featured, the importance of the Christmas Bird Count, and information on how to join one of the National Audubon Society’s count circles. While a bit hefty as a readaloud (“I saw one two years ago, but not last year”), younger readers may enjoy counting the birds in Coleman’s textured digital illustrations, which portray humans and birds in a friendly style. An instructive and attractive picture book for aspiring ornithologists and young nature aficionados. Ages 4–8.
November 1, 2019
Gr 3-5-Ava and her mother help with the annual Christmas Bird Count every year, where they join forces with other members of their community to note the birds they see in and around their neighborhood. This year is special: Ava gets to be in charge of keeping track of the birds they see and hear. The data they collect will help scientists understand patterns in the lives of the many birds in the world. Along with their team captain, Big Al, the three embark on a journey of identification and study that culminates in a celebration with other teams in their count circle. Soft, detailed illustrations bring the winter world to life, depict many bird species, and capture the sounds and feelings of a chilly winter day. Readers will love searching for birds along with Ava and her companions. A running tally at the far right side of the pages helps readers keep track of the birds they have seen. VERDICT This book introduces elementary school readers to the world of birds and citizen science in an accessible, welcoming way.-Mary Lanni, formerly at Denver Public Library
Copyright 2019 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
July 1, 2019
A young citizen scientist helps count birds for the Christmas Bird Count, a hemispherewide event run by the National Audubon Society. On a snowy winter morning, Ava and her mother bundle up to spend their day driving and walking around through varying habitats to count birds in the area designated to them by their local organizer. This year, Ava's old enough to take the tally, which, in a clever design feature, runs along the side of each spread. Count guidelines are smoothly worked into Richmond's narrative: Count every bird you see or hear; make sure at least two people see or hear it; don't count any bird more than once. She even explains how a tally is marked. The birds, familiar to residents of eastern and central North America, are faithfully shown in context in Coleman's digital paintings. Ava and her mother have light brown skin, and Ava's hair is lighter and fluffier than her mother's straight, black locks; team leader Big Al presents white. The author builds suspense by including Ava's hope to see a raven again--a bird she saw two years ago but not on last year's count. The story includes common frustrations: birds only one person sees and birds that were probably counted already. Their final tally--24 species, from great horned owl in the early morning to the longed-for raven at dusk--is quite respectable, and more about each featured species appears in the backmatter. An engaging, informative introduction. (author's note) (Informational picture book. 5-9)
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January 1, 2020
Young narrator Ava and her mother spend a winter day observing and recording the bird species they see as part of the annual Christmas Bird Count (an author's note explains that the event is run by the National Audubon �Society). The text is full of information for fledgling scientists, with species names in bold and more information about each in the back matter. Ava's tally appears on the side of each spread during the count, allowing readers to watch the list grow as she spots new species.
(Copyright 2020 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)