Hummingbirds

April 1, 2016

K-Gr 2-This series covers basic information on birds common to North America. In three brief chapters, each book touches on appearance, diet, nesting preferences and components, social structure, and care of young. Bird sounds are described. The photos are clear and typically reflect the text well, although most are without captions. The images in Mourning Doves are especially well chosen, including one of a squab eating from its parent's crop. The migration map in Hummingbirds doesn't differentiate among the seasons (unlike the rest of the titles), because hummingbirds migrate individually, an important distinction unfortunately left out of the text. The three concluding "Critical Thinking" questions will help readers recall the text, but the minimal content will limit answers without further research. VERDICT Add these where there is demand.

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2016
Very simple, declarative sentences present basic information about these common birds (physical description, habitat, diet, nesting habits, etc.) and encourage aspiring birdwatchers to "look for Ythem] in your backyard!" Full-color, close-up action photographs of the birds are the real standouts in the otherwise slight volumes. A habitat map and two or three Common Corerelated questions are appended. Reading list. Glos., ind.

(Copyright 2016 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)