2022-07-13
The Sills add to their About… series with this look at birds that live near or on water.
The text introduces readers to waterfowl, including a look at where they live (ocean versus rivers, lakes, and ponds), some common features (webbed feet, waterproof feathers, bills), what and how they eat (plants, insects, fish, grains, etc.), their nests and babies, and the fact that some migrate. As with the other About… series entries, the strengths and weaknesses are the same. John Sill’s realistic watercolors, labeled with the animals’ common names, are a highlight. Cathryn Sill’s simple sentences make the topic approachable for even the youngest nature lover, though to get the most out of the book, children and/or their adult partners will have to flip back and forth between the book’s spreads and the afterword, which presents a thumbnail version of each watercolor plate and a paragraph of text, including information on the birds’ habitats (no map, though). Opposite a picture of several Toulouse geese in front of a stone cottage, the text reads “Waterfowl have been useful to people for thousands of years.” The artwork does not show how, which will leave readers unsatisfied until they read in the back about eggs and meat, down, and eating harmful pests. Similarly, a page with text reading “It is important to protect waterfowl and the places where they live” lacks information on the same page to truly grab readers. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
An introduction that could be so much better. (glossary, bibliography, resources) (Nonfiction. 3-8)