A Children's Guide to Arctic Birds

Gr 3–5—Though presented in a familiar and approachable picture book format, this look at Arctic birds is a real gem. Saturated with information, it covers 12 different birds, including the common eider, the Arctic tern, and the tundra swan. Readers will discover where these birds are found, what they eat, where they go in the winter, and the sounds they make, as well as information on nesting and eggs. The "Listen For" section is particularly interesting, as Pelletier effectively communicates the birds' calls in writing. There is a "Feathered Fact" about each species. Additional content includes a discussion of bird feet, bills, and feathers, as well as an illustration depicting all these birds' comparative sizes. Accurate and teeming with life, color, and texture, the illustrations add further to the book's appeal, and even the end pages are well stocked with useful images. Fans of Steve Jenkins's work and Annette LeBlanc Cate's Look Up!: Bird-Watching in Your Own Backyard (Candlewick, 2013) will enjoy this title.