My Book of Birds

In an elegant homage to birds, Valerio uses cut-paper collage to create delicately crafted scenes that imbue his subjects with energy and individuality. The large trim size keeps the artwork front and center, though Valerio also describes each bird in clear and lively passages: "Great Horned Owls are birds of the night. They have sharp hearing and can see well in the dark, which makes them excellent hunters." With their clean, geometric layering and bold presence, the images often evoke the iconography of Mayan, Inuit, and other indigenous art, as well as the work of Charley Harper. It's an inviting combination of information and artistry that subtly encourages readers to observe and reflect on bird life. Ages 5-up. (Apr.)

K-Gr 2--The versatile artist from Brazil brings a fresh eye to North American birds with his colorful paper cutouts. Each bird is briefly described in one or two short, conversational sentences, often enlivened with observations--robins search for the "worms they find so delicious" and a black-capped chickadee is a "sweet little bird." This style helps to facilitate the inclusion of an array of factual information on habitat, nesting, mating, diet, social customs, physical traits or abilities, and identification. Using old magazine paper, art paper, and gift wrap, Valerio captures the essence of each bird's color and movement. Large birds such as the American white pelican, great blue heron, and snowy owl are each given their own spread, while smaller birds or related species tend to be grouped together (e.g., tanagers, grosbeaks, and cardinals). Valerio finishes up with a variety of sparkling warbler species fluttering across the pages as they return north in the spring to breed. Softly colored, labeled eggs on the front papers and bright, labeled feathers on the endpapers bracket this beautiful album.