What It's Like to Be a Bird: Adapted for Young Readers

August 1, 2023
An expert ornithologist lays out the hows, whats, and whys of bird behavior. Sibley, the much-admired creator of a popular series of identification guides for birds, has adapted his adult title What It's Like To Be a Bird (2020). But, in fact, his initial impetus for that book was his desire to write an introduction to birds for young readers--not a field guide but an album that would foster appreciation for the birds around us. And here it is. In organization and presentation, this adaptation is very like the source material; a concise overview of birds in general is followed by profiles of various species. Sibley covers a broad set of the most familiar birds in the continental United States and Canada. His illustrations are striking and meticulously accurate. The format--short, informative paragraphs that focus on a particular species but also answer broader questions about bird physiology and behavior--works both for browsers and those reading from cover to cover and is just as appealing as the original. The biggest change is a good one: The introduction to each species depicted now appears at the beginning of the entry, near a portrait of the bird, rather than as part of an index in the back. Some wording has been simplified and some details left out, but overall, this is an immensely entertaining and enlightening volume that will entice both adults and children. Splendid. (Nonfiction. 8-15)

COPYRIGHT(2023) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

September 1, 2023
Grades 6-10 Long relied upon by birders for his detailed guidebooks, Sibley brings his adult study on the nature and behavior of birds to a younger audience. It opens with a fact-packed crash course on birds: anatomy, coloration, feather structure, vocalizations, vision, flight and migration, diet, mating, nesting, and so on. It's a ton of information but clearly organized, employing headers, bulleted lists, and plenty of illustrations, all painted by Sibley. Overview accomplished, the book moves into a survey of specific bird species from North America. Grouped roughly by habitat and type (seabirds, shorebirds, birds of prey, songbirds, etc.), the individual birds within each category are presented on double-page spreads that include a full-page, wonderfully detailed, painted portrait and page of relevant facts and trivia, intercut with smaller illustrations and the occasional activity. The text itself is quite dense, but its arrangement into lists and the repetition of core concepts make it easy to digest, as does the book's browsable structure. Tips for helping birds and becoming a birder close this informative guide on our feathered friends.

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Starred review from October 1, 2023

Gr 4-8-From well-respected birding expert Sibley comes this beautifully illustrated book for middle grade readers, delving into such questions as "Why do birds need feathers?" and "How do birds find food?" The writing is fairly detailed, yet each bird introduced is limited to a spread complete with a colored illustration, making it easier to digest the details. Sensibly organized, Sibley focuses on the essence of each bird species presented. With crows he may focus on behavior, yet with a finch he may choose to share information on feeding or nest building. For readers who may only glean tidbits, there are some mesmerizing facts. Did you know that feathers wear out, birds have no teeth, and all birds molt? In addition to excellent information about a variety of birds, there are occasional activities peppered throughout. There are bird species presented from across the entire United States. Whether readers live in an urban or rural area, we all have birds in our communities to observe and learn about. Sibley achieves this by sharing his own dedication to and fascination with our feathered friends, truly answering the titular question, "what it's like to be a bird?" VERDICT A superior volume of well-researched facts and figures; a must-have for young bird nerds.-Linda Annable

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