SUBSCRIBE
SUBSCRIBE
SLJ Blog Network +
  • 100 Scope Notes
  • A Fuse #8 Production
  • Good Comics for Kids
  • Heavy Medal: A Mock Newbery Blog
  • Teen Librarian Toolbox
  • The Classroom Bookshelf
  • The Yarn
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About/Contact
  • *Best New Books*
    • Annual Best Lists
  • Reviews
    • One Star Review
    • Nonfiction
    • Toon Reviews
  • Articles
    • Authors
    • Link Du Jour
  • Covers
    • Covering the Newbery
    • Cover Curiosity
    • Unfortunate Covers
  • News
    • Books on Film
    • Morning Notes
  • Newsletter

July 30, 2012 by Travis Jonker

Nonfiction Monday: Bird Talk by Lita Judge

July 30, 2012 by Travis Jonker   4 comments

Bird Talk: What Birds Are Saying and Why
By Lita Judge

Roaring Brook Press

ISBN: 9781596436466
$17.99
Grades 2-4
In Stores

SCROLL TO KEEP READING THIS POST

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

Find it at
Schuler Books | Your Library

You have your nonfiction that clearly covers the basics – here’s an animal, here’s where it lives, here’s what it eats – and then you have books like Bird Talk, where every page brings something unexpected. Richly illustrated and keenly researched, Lita Judge’s ode to ornithological communication makes a nice counterpoint to the more workmanlike nonfiction staples.

Tweet, chirp, caw, strut – when it comes to the purposes and sophistication of bird communication, there’s much more than meets the eye and ear. Bird Talk is broken into sections to make sense of it all. From the common American Robin singing hundreds of different songs to attract a mate to lesser known Scandinavian Fieldfares dropping poop missiles, Judge hits on a wide range of species and their lesser-known communication techniques. Back matter includes added information on every species covered in the book, a glossary, references, and a website to explore.

The detailed illustrations strike a nice balance between accuracy and character. The artwork is set against large expanses of white, allowing the text to draw the eye.

A bit of pleasure reading nonfiction for a wide audience. Bird Talk will make a lovely addition to your collection.

Review copy from the publisher.

Be sure to check out the Nonfiction Monday roundup at Check It Out.

Also reviewed by MotherReader, A Fuse #8 Production, Waking Brain Cells.

Read an interview with Lita Judge at Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast.

Filed under: Nonfiction, Reviews

SHARE:

Read or Leave Comments

About Travis Jonker

Travis Jonker is an elementary school librarian in Michigan. He writes reviews (and the occasional article or two) for School Library Journal and is a member of the 2014 Caldecott committee. You can email Travis at scopenotes@gmail.com, or follow him on Twitter: @100scopenotes.

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Posts

September 2020

Nonfiction Monday: Nacho's Nachos by Sandra Nickel

by Travis Jonker

August 2020

Nonfiction Monday: Mother Jones and Her Army of Mill Children

by Travis Jonker

November 2018

Nonfiction Monday: Otis and Will Discover the Deep by Barb Rosenstock

by Travis Jonker

October 2018

Review: Do Not Lick This Book by Idan Ben-Barak

by Travis Jonker

September 2018

Review: Fairy Spell by Marc Tyler Nobleman

by Travis Jonker

ADVERTISEMENT

SLJ Blog Network

100 Scope Notes

Sydney Taylor Blog Tour: THE TOWER OF LIFE by Chana Stiefel and Susan Gal

by Travis Jonker

A Fuse #8 Production

“… A relationship of reciprocity with the Earth.” Diana Sudyka Discusses Her New Picture Book, Little Land

by Betsy Bird

Good Comics for Kids

Haley Newsome on Unfamiliar | Interview

by J. Caleb Mozzocco

Heavy Medal

What’s Coming in 2023, A Feedback Poll, and Goodbye for Now…

by Steven Engelfried

Teen Librarian Toolbox

Wednesday Books Showcase: May Through August 2023 releases

by Amanda MacGregor

The Classroom Bookshelf

The Classroom Bookshelf is Moving

by Erika Thulin Dawes

The Yarn

A Book 25 Years in the Making: Marla Frazee Visits The Yarn

by Travis Jonker

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Articles on SLJ

24 Audiobooks To Encourage Ongoing Activism and Social Justice

These Books Picture the Music | Read Woke

33 New Releases, Including Books by Jerry Craft and Jerry Pinkney| Starred Reviews, February 2023

4 Middle Grade & YA Nonfiction Titles to Help Heal the World

15 Short & Sweet Love Stories for Tweens and Teens

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Jeanne Walker Harvey says

    July 30, 2012 at 10:51 am

    Yes! The layout with lot of white looks appealing. This book is definitely on my “must read” list. Thanks for sharing.

  2. Jen says

    July 30, 2012 at 10:54 am

    This does look great! It’s amazing to think how much bird talk has influenced the English language, including the words you mentioned. My colleagues and I played a game last year of what animal names were also English verbs and quite a few birds showed up!

  3. PragmaticMom says

    July 30, 2012 at 3:23 pm

    OMG, I love birds and don’t get why my kids are not into them. This book looks great and I’ve always heard wonderful things about Lita Judge. I’m not sure how we missed her! Going to get myself a copy!

  4. Jen Bryant says

    July 31, 2012 at 10:15 am

    Thanks for sharing this beautiful book. I was just coming in from re-filling my feeders and bird bath when I revved up my laptop and this came in! My great-grandmother lived in a tiny town and did not drive, but she kept a poster of bird species on the back of her kitchen door and taught me to identify dozens of N. American species by their size, plumage, and songs.
    Birds are endlessly fascinating creatures–and I’m putting this on my list to read as soon as it’s available. Thanks again.

ADVERTISEMENT

Archives

  • Author/Illustrator Blogs

    • Erin Stead Illustration
    • Hey, Rabbit!
    • James Preller's Blog
    • MATTHEWCORDELLBLOGS
    • Mo Willems Doodles
    • The Scop
  • Book Blogs I Like

    • A Book and a Hug
    • A Fuse #8 Production
    • A Kids Book a Day
    • A Year of Reading
    • Abby (the) Librarian
    • Awful Library Books
    • Becky’s Book Reviews
    • Better Book Titles
    • Book-A-Day Almanac
    • Bookends
    • books4yourkids.com
    • bookshelves of doom
    • Bottom Shelf Books
    • Calling Caldecott
    • Caustic Cover Critic
    • Chad C. Beckerman
    • Charlotte’s Library
    • Cheryl Rainfield
    • Chicken Spaghetti
    • CHILDREN’S ILLUSTRATION
    • Collecting Children’s Books
    • Cybils
    • EarlyWord
    • educating alice
    • Finding Wonderland
    • For Those About to Mock
    • Good Comics for Kids
    • Good Show Sir
    • GottaBook
    • Great Kid Books
    • Heavy Medal: A Mock Newbery Blog
    • Hi Miss Julie!
    • Jen Robinson’s Book Page
    • Kidsmomo
    • Maria T. Middleton Design
    • Nerdy Book Club
    • Neverending Search
    • Nine Kinds of Pie
    • One Book, Two Books, Old Books, New Books
    • Out of the Box
    • Oz and Ends
    • PlanetEsme
    • Read Roger
    • Reading Rants!
    • Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast
    • sharpread
    • ShelfTalker
    • so tomorrow
    • The Children's Book Review
    • The Miss Rumphius Effect
    • Uncovered Cover Art
    • Waking Brain Cells
    • Watch. Connect. Read.
  • Library Blogs

    • ALSC Blog
    • Blue Skunk Blog
    • librarian.net
    • LISNews
    • Stephen's Lighthouse
    • Tame The Web: Libraries and Technology
    • Tame The Web: Libraries and Technology
    • Unshelved
  • Follow This Blog

    Enter your email address below to receive notifications of new blog posts by email.

    This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

    This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

    Primary Sidebar

    • News & Features
    • Reviews+
    • Technology
    • School Libraries
    • Public Libraries
    • Age Level
    • Ideas
    • Blogs
    • Classroom
    • Diversity
    • People
    • Job Zone

    Reviews+

    • Book Lists
    • Best Books
    • Media
    • Reference
    • Series Made Simple
    • Tech
    • Review for SLJ
    • Review Submissions

    SLJ Blog Network

    • 100 Scope Notes
    • A Fuse #8 Production
    • Good Comics for Kids
    • Heavy Medal
    • Neverending Search
    • Teen Librarian Toolbox
    • The Classroom Bookshelf
    • The Yarn

    Resources

    • 2022 Youth Media Awards
    • The Newbery at 100: SLJ Celebrates the 100th Anniversary of the Award
    • Special Report | School Libraries 2021
    • Summer Reading 2021
    • Series Made Simple Spring 2021
    • SLJ Diverse Books Survey
    • Summer Programming Survey
    • Research
    • White Papers / Case Studies
    • School Librarian of the Year
    • Mathical Book Prize Collection Development Awards
    • Librarian/Teacher Collaboration Award

    Events & PD

    • In-Person Events
    • Online Courses
    • Virtual Events
    • Webcasts
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Subscribe
    • Media Inquiries
    • Newsletter Sign Up
    • Content Submissions
    • Data Privacy
    • Terms of Use
    • Terms of Sale
    • FAQs
    • Diversity Policy
    • Careers at MSI


    COPYRIGHT © 2023


    COPYRIGHT © 2023