Mama Built a Little Nest

by Jennifer Ward, Steve Jenkins (Illustrator)

Overview

A delightful exploration of the incredibly variety of nests birds build for their babies, illustrated by a Caldecott Honoree.

Mama built a little nest
inside a sturdy trunk.
She used her beak to tap-tap-tap
the perfect place to bunk.

There are so many different kinds of birds—and those birds build so many different kinds of nests to keep their babies cozy. With playful, bouncy rhyme, Jennifer Ward explores nests large and small, silky and cottony, muddy and twiggy—and all the birds that call them home!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781442421165
Publisher:	Beach Lane Books
Publication date:	03/18/2014
Pages:	40
Sales rank:	167,934
Product dimensions:	9.30(w) x 11.00(h) x 0.40(d)
Lexile:	AD860L (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Jennifer Ward has written numerous award-winning picture books, including Just You and Me, illustrated by Alexander Vidal; How to Find a Bird, illustrated by Diana Sudyka; Round, illustrated by Lisa Congdon; and Mama Built a Little Nest and Mama Dug a Little Den, both illustrated by Steve Jenkins. A former elementary educator, Jennifer now travels the country as a public speaker visiting schools and literacy conferences. She lives with her family in Edwardsville, Illinois. Visit her at JenniferWardBooks.com.

Steven Jenkins (1952–2021) was the illustrator of many celebrated children’s books including Can an Aardvark Bark? and Fourteen Monkeys by Melissa Stewart; Hello, Baby! by Mem Fox; Mama Built a Little Nest and Mama Dug a Little Den by Jennifer Ward; and the 2003 Caldecott Honor recipient, What Do You Do With a Tail Like This?, which he created with his wife, Robin Page. Learn more about his life and work at SteveJenkinsBooks.com.

Editorial Reviews

★ 12/23/2013
Jenkins's (Animals Upside Down) signature paper collages handsomely illustrate this inviting read about bird nest variety. Ward (What Will Hatch?) showcases 14 nest types, from simple scrape nests to intricately woven ones, with rhythmic verses that begin the same way: "Mama built a little nest," although there's some variation on that theme ("Daddy built a little nest"). Realistic vignettes of birds and their nests are set against a white backdrop; spots of vibrant color accent the muted hues of the mostly female nest builders. In one scene, deep ruddy shades adorn a female grebe's majestic profile as she swims near her nest: "Mama built a little nest./ She gathered twigs that float/ and placed them on the water/ to create a cozy boat." Captions alongside the illustrations offer additional information about nesting materials and habits. Families using this as a bedtime book will appreciate the snug ending: "You have a nest—your very own!/ A place to rest your head/ with pillows soft and cozy thoughts—/ your nest is called a bed!" Ages 4–8. Author's agent: Stefanie Von Borstel, Full Circle Literary. (Mar.)

Publishers Weekly

"Using prose, poetry, and illustrations this book takes the reader into the fascinating world of birds and their nests. . . . The colorful and captivating pictures embellish the writing, pulling the elements together into a concise, informative piece on each bird and its nest. A note from the author and a listing of additional resources are provided for bird enthusiasts. This extremely well-thought out book will be enjoyed by all readers."

Library Media Connection

"A deceptively simple narrative structure reveals the myriad ways birds prepare for their offspring's arrival. . . . This excellent first science book doubles as a bedtime story."

March 2014 Shelf Awareness

"From the title page, where a cactus is used as a wren's nest, to the final spreads where the reader realizes that a bed is a nest for a person, the young lap listener can celebrate nests of all sorts. . . . Budding bird lovers will find lots to appreciate, from woodpeckers and hummingbirds to cowbirds and penguins. Jenkins' cut-paper collages, so familiar in many other nature books, are stunning and make excellent use of white space. Ward’s light humor makes these short poems unforgettable."

BookPage Feature

* "Ward and Jenkins show the beautiful variety of bird nests found around the world. Each jaunty, lilting four-line poem describes a type of nest. . . . Jenkins' gorgeous, remarkably realistic illustrations fill each spread and show the birds and nests in lively, species-specific detail. . . . Young bird-lovers will adore this cozy, illuminating look into avian habitats."

Booklist

* "Ward and Jenkins show the beautiful variety of bird nests found around the world. Each jaunty, lilting four-line poem describes a type of nest. . . . Jenkins' gorgeous, remarkably realistic illustrations fill each spread and show the birds and nests in lively, species-specific detail. . . . Young bird-lovers will adore this cozy, illuminating look into avian habitats."

Booklist

"A practically perfect science picture book. Ward features a different kind of bird’s nest on each spread, with a four-line rhyming verse suitable for reading aloud on the left-hand pages, and a few sentences offering more information, at a higher reading level, on the right. Jenkins's colorful cut-paper collages, set against white backgrounds that emphasize their attention to detail, illuminate each of the birds' creations.... Equally excellent for classroom or storytime, this harmonious blend of text and illustrations executes a simple concept beautifully, in a manner that allows readers of various ages to approach the book in different ways."

February 2014 School Library Journal

2014-01-04
Echoing the meter of "Mary Had a Little Lamb," Ward uses catchy original rhymes to describe the variety of nests birds create. Each sweet stanza is complemented by a factual, engaging description of the nesting habits of each bird. Some of the notes are intriguing, such as the fact that the hummingbird uses flexible spider web to construct its cup-shaped nest so the nest will stretch as the chicks grow. An especially endearing nesting behavior is that of the emperor penguin, who, with unbelievable patience, incubates the egg between his tummy and his feet for up to 60 days. The author clearly feels a mission to impart her extensive knowledge of birds and bird behavior to the very young, and she's found an appealing and attractive way to accomplish this. The simple rhymes on the left page of each spread, written from the young bird's perspective, will appeal to younger children, and the notes on the right-hand page of each spread provide more complex factual information that will help parents answer further questions and satisfy the curiosity of older children. Jenkins' accomplished collage illustrations of common bird species—woodpecker, hummingbird, cowbird, emperor penguin, eagle, owl, wren—as well as exotics, such as flamingoes and hornbills, are characteristically naturalistic and accurate in detail. A good bet for the youngest bird-watchers. (author's note, further resources) (Informational picture book. 4-7)

Kirkus Reviews