Bird Watch

by Christie Matheson, Christie Matheson (Illustrator)

Overview

From the author of the acclaimed Tap the Magic Tree!

Search for hidden birds and count them, too, in this seek-and-find picture book with a satisfying surprise. Delicate artwork, a focus on counting, and an engaging treasure hunt will entice fans of Janell Cannon's Stellaluna and Steve Light’s Have You Seen My Dragon?

There are treasures hiding in the trees! Can you find them? From the author of the acclaimed and bestselling Tap the Magic Tree, this stunning picture book merges basic math concepts with elements of a treasure hunt.

With different species of birds and other forest animals hiding in the trees and bushes, there is something new to discover on every page. Patience is rewarded as readers learn to count backward from ten, meet new birds, and learn about the diverse ecosystem of the forest. Beautiful watercolor-and-collage art, a playful counting text, and a search-and-find theme will inspire children and parents to return to Bird Watch again and again.

And for curious young birders, a page of information about bird-watching and the different birds that appear in the book is included.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780062393401
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	02/26/2019
Pages:	48
Sales rank:	349,921
Product dimensions:	8.60(w) x 11.70(h) x 0.60(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Christie Matheson is the author of the acclaimed picture books Tap the Magic Tree, Touch the Brightest Star, and Plant the Tiny Seed. Her three young children like to take her birding in the Presidio of San Francisco.

Christie Matheson is the author of the acclaimed picture books Tap the Magic Tree, Touch the Brightest Star, and Plant the Tiny Seed. Her three young children like to take her birding in the Presidio of San Francisco.

Editorial Reviews

10/15/2018
Matheson takes readers on a tranquil counting and bird-watching expedition. On the first page, a checklist identifies birds that readers may spot throughout: chickadee, warbler, and bluebird among them. Matheson provides quiet, guiding observations: “As a few raindrops fall, you just might find seven wrens singing. Try to spy their stripy tails.” Insects and mammals pepper the flower-filled landscape as well, with some at risk of becoming prey. Airy watercolors featuring light strokes and pale skies give the spreads a feeling of openness. As the skies turn an inky blue, “one more beautiful bird”—an owl—appears. Matheson urges readers to observe the natural world with wide-open senses. Ages 4–8. (Feb.)

Publishers Weekly

Matheson takes readers on a tranquil counting and bird-watching expedition. ...Airy watercolors featuring light strokes and pale skies give the spreads a feeling of openness. ...Matheson urges readers to observe the natural world with wide-open senses.” — Publishers Weekly

“From 10 black-capped chickadees to a single great horned owl, a countdown seek-and-find presents common birds. . . .It requires significant patience and persistence to find them all; the reward is a special surprise. . . .Fun and surprisingly successful as an invitation to look closely at the natural world.” — Kirkus Reviews

“Inviting. . .provides practice in visual discrimination, as well as fun for fans of seek-and-find pictures. . . .An absorbing picture book.” — ALA Booklist

“Urging children to look carefully, Matheson’s watercolor and collage illustrations uses a soft, quiet palette to marvel at the beauty of the natural world. . . .This engaging work will be useful as a nature study, a counting book, and as a fun way to promote careful observation. A peaceful look at nature for little ones.” — School Library Journal

From the Publisher

Inviting. . .provides practice in visual discrimination, as well as fun for fans of seek-and-find pictures. . . .An absorbing picture book.

ALA Booklist

12/01/2018
PreS-Gr 1—Bluebirds, warblers, hummingbirds, and a mighty hawk are among the hidden treasures to be found in this serene counting book about birds. Urging children to look carefully, Matheson's watercolor and collage illustrations use a soft, quiet palette to marvel at the beauty of the natural world. From 10 black capped chickadees hiding in a green fir tree down to one powerful owl soaring in the night sky, young children will delight in finding the hidden birds, insects, mice, and even a slimy banana slug among the flowers and ferns. The gentle text offers consistent encouragement to continue the search and a birding checklist illustrates the hidden quarry. End notes offer further information on each of the birds and their locations. This engaging work will be useful as a nature study, a counting book, and as a fun way to promote careful observation. VERDICT A peaceful look at nature for little ones.—Eva Elisabeth VonAncken, formerly at Trinity-Pawling School, NY

School Library Journal

2018-11-12

From 10 black-capped chickadees to a single great horned owl, a countdown seek-and-find presents common birds.

Matheson imitates actual bird-watching with this deceptively simple "I spy"-type outing that goes from morning through night, through sun and shower, ending on the following day. Each spread contains birds (and sometimes other creatures) hidden among the kinds of trees and plants where North American readers with access to the wooded outdoors might find them in real life. It requires significant patience and persistence to find them all; the reward is a special surprise. The author opens with a "birding checklist," invites readers to "go outside and look carefully," and describes the chickadees as "your first treasure." A short accompanying text uses generic names for the birds to look for and gives readers some clues. The birds pictured can be found in San Francisco, the home of the author, but because she has chosen widespread species, most readers from all over the continent will recognize most of them. Besides the chickadees and owl, she hides bluebirds, sparrows, wrens, robins, warblers, doves, and hummingbirds. Complete common names for the actual birds shown are given in an afterword, and for each she includes a short paragraph of other information about appearance and behavior as well as a suggestion for further resources. The author/illustrator used watercolor and collage for her carefully painted images, which are a good combination of reasonably realistic and satisfyingly challenging.

Fun and surprisingly successful as an invitation to look closely at the natural world. (Informational picture book. 4-7)

Kirkus Reviews