A Perfect Day for an Albatross

Gr 2–4—An outstanding description of the life cycle of the Laysan albatross told as a first-person narrative from the perspective of Malie, a female albatross. Aspects of the life of an albatross are seamlessly integrated into the story, readers effortlessly learn that young birds spend years at sea before returning to the coral island of their birth, and revisit the island just to learn their unique mating dance. Full-color block prints on every page illustrate not only the albatross couple of Malie and Kumukahi but also the plants and animals that share their Pacific Ocean and island habitats. Three frames on one page show the running takeoff an albatross requires to launch into the air. Malie's narrative describes the days and nights spent feeding before she returns to relieve Kumukahi of his nest duties. The pages following the story engage readers in identifying the plants and animals illustrated in the text and include more facts about the Laysan albatross, environmental concerns, and a map.