Children's Picture Books Reviews and Exploration Ideas

Unbeatable Beaks by Stephen R. Swinburne, illustrated by Joan Paley is a feast for the eyes and ears. Inspired by the rhytmic pounding of a woodpecker, Swinburne penned a poem dedicated to the varied and remarkable bird beaks and the animals who own them. Describing the purpose and unique ability of several types of beaks, Swinburne employs powerful action words that capture the attention and drive his intention home. Joan Paley created mixed media life-like collages of large, bright and bold bird images that are an educational delight for elementary ages. Swinburne includes a bird to beak matching activity and ends his book with brief but detailed paragraphs about each bird included. Unbeatable Breaks is a joyful introductory exploration of birds, offering poetry and science wrapped together in a colorful package.

Discussion and Exploration Ideas

• Enjoy matching the descriptive words Swinburne uses to the bird images Paley creates on each page. Allow your child to speculate and guess how the bird beak shapes are used and what food they eat. How does beak shape and structure enable the birds to find and secure food? Detailed information about diet and beak usage can be reviewed on the last pages.

• Ask your child to review the varied habitats of included birds. Do the habitats impact bird beak shape? If so, how?

• Enjoy a nature walk through your backyard, park or neighborhood looking for birds. Note bird beak appearances and enjoy additional speculation and analysis of shape and diet.

• Consider a bird beak and food experiment. Note a few backyard birds in your area. Analyze their beak shape and possible usage (i.e. finch family birds including cardinals have sturdy, snapping beaks for breaking sunflower seeds open to get sunflower ehearts) Next, place some blueberries, safflower seed, sunflower seed and/or peanuts in your yard. Guess which birds will eat what food then observe your yard to enjoy the experiment results and very happy birds!

• Invite your child to pick a favorite backyard bird. Help he/she sketch the bird on paper then using colored construction paper, piece together sections matching the bird's color as illustrator Joan Paley does. Use crayons, paints and other materials to create texture and depth. Ask your child to research a bit about his/her chosen bird including habitat, diet, nesting and migration habits.

Additional extraordinary bird books to explore include:

The Boy Who Drew Birds: A Story of John James Audubon by Jacqueline Davies ; illustrated by Melissa Sweet

Between Heaven and Earth: Bird Tales from Around the World by Howard Norman ; illustrated by Leo & Diane Dillon

Crinkleroot's 25 Birds Every Child Should Know by Jim Arnosky

How Do Birds Find Their Way? (Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science 2) by Roma Gans, illus by Paul Mirocha

Dancers in the Garden by Joanne Ryder, illus by Judith Lopez

Once I Ate a Pie by Patricia MacLachlan, Emily MacLachlan Charest, and illustrated by Katy Schneider is a delightful, masterful work of sublime blank verse poetry. Written for dog lovers yet able to defy bounds of age, preference or even pet ownership, Once I Ate a Pie is pure beauty in the authors' obvious love and mastery of word usage and consideration of subject. The word choice is juicy and deliberate complimented by Schneider's stunning paintings that honor canines and their unique and varied personalities. Fonts are used to maneuver carefully chosen text to highlight each dog's personality and longings. Simple yet profound, I found myself often brought to tears humbled by the talent and message of the authors and illustrators. Once I Ate a Pie will become a cherished addition to your poetry collection. And, if you happen to check it out, Mr. Beefy is my favorite. He is b-e-a-u-t-i-f-u-l.

Discussion and Exploration Ideas

• Enjoy exploring the various dog breeds in Once I Ate a Pie. Consider asking your child the following: Which poems do you feel best describe the dog breed and why? What do you like best about these poems, i.e. language, image, story, etc?

• Poetry is meant to be heard as well as read. Enjoy reading the poems aloud and helping your child change voice, tone and feeling to communicate the dog breed being described. Use font size, word and letter spacing to determine the cadence, loudness and intensity.

• Discuss the idea of blank verse and the freedom it offers a poet while at the same time tasking a writer with the need to carefully choose and sharpen his/her wordsmithing skills. Next, choose an item in Nature or your home and have your child make a list of five (5) words to describe it focusing on words that are juicy, rich and creative - maybe even new ones that your child creates.

• Ask your child to choose a favorite animal that he/she knows well. Guide your student through the writing process of creating a poem similar to those in Once I Ate a Pie using descriptive, allerative words to communicate ideas and feelings. Focus on enjoyment of process and playing with words as tools for painting pictures in the mind and soul.