Nonfiction Monday: Bird Talk by Lita Judge

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

Roaring Brook Press

ISBN: 9781596436466
$17.99
Grades 2-4
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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.