Olivia's Birds

Gr 3—5—An 11-year-old from Long Island spends her vacations on the Gulf Coast with her grandparents. After hearing about the April 2010 oil spill, she volunteered to raise money to save the birds endangered by the disaster. A self-proclaimed "decent drawer," she wrote to the Audubon Society and offered to sell her drawings as a fundraiser (she raised more than $150,000). Her love of birds and drawing gives the book touching beauty and lyricism. The child's straightforward voice is engaging, evocative, and insightful, and her bird-watching advice is spot-on—"And don't just look up. I once found a hummingbird nest on the ground of a wooded area." Her lively drawings capture the avian personalities, often with just a few lines. The letter she wrote is reproduced and she encourages children and adults to participate in environmental causes. Budding naturalists, artists, and activists will be inspired and galvanized by Olivia Bouler.—Frances E. Millhouser, formerly at Chantilly Regional Library, Fairfax County, VA