Riki's Birdhouse

by Monica Wellington

Overview

Riki loves to watch the beautiful birds that visit his garden through the four seasons. He builds them a birdhouse: follow along as he measures and saws the wood, then glues, hammers, and paints it. He picks the perfect place to mount it in his yard and is excited to see what happens. When spring comes, bluebirds move in. Soon there are eggs and babies! As the seasons change, Riki finds joy in helping and learning about his feathered friends. For every budding bird-watcher, this book is as fresh and sweet as a bluebird's song.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781087852348
Publisher:	Monica Wellington
Publication date:	05/08/2020
Pages:	34
Product dimensions:	10.80(w) x 8.30(h) x 0.20(d)
Age Range:	3 - 8 Years

About the Author

Monica Wellington was born in London and lived in Switzerland and Germany as a child. She has written and illustrated many books for young children, including Apple Farmer Annie, Zinnia's Flower Garden, Crepes by Suzette, and Mr. Cookie Baker. She now lives in New York City. Some of her favorite things are: making desserts, eating chocolate, traveling to France, going to the ballet, and reading a book with her cat. She teaches at the School of Visual Arts.

Editorial Reviews

"Riki's passion for birds is evident, and likely to be contagious... He is a diligent bird watcher who does all he can to attract and keep birds in his yard through all the seasons-from building a bluebird house and making his own bird food to putting out nest-building materials and growing sunflowers... Decorative frames surround the text, reinforcing the topic and adding more information-readers get a glimpse of Riki's journal pages, identify some of the birds in his yard and learn how a bird develops inside an egg. Backmatter includes instructions for building and installing a birdhouse, a recipe for bird-food cupcakes and information about birdbaths, feeders and bluebirds. Bird lovers with young children and aspiring bird watchers are sure to want to emulate Riki." - Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher

PreS-Gr 2

Riki wants some new bluebirds to stay in his yard, and so he builds a birdhouse just for them. On each spread, a page of narrative surrounded by small pictures of related common objects faces a full-page illustration that shows Riki working on his project. The artwork, gouache on paper with photographic collage details, is simple and appropriate for young naturalists, though the collage elements do not stand out among other objects on a page. Pictured on one corner of each spread is Riki's notebook, where he records his diary-style entries. The book concludes with instructions for building a birdhouse and installing it; while addressed to children, they are clearly intended for an adult audience. Combine this story with Gail Gibbons's Tool Book (Holiday House, 1982) and Priscilla Belz Jenkins's A Nest Full of Eggs (HarperCollins, 1995) and get ready for spring.-Lisa Egly Lehmuller, St. Patrick's Catholic School, Charlotte, NC

School Library Journal

Riki's passion for birds is evident, and likely to be contagious, in Wellington's latest. The precocious child is a diligent bird watcher who does all he can to attract and keep birds in his yard through all the seasons-from building a bluebird house and making his own bird food to putting out nest-building materials and growing sunflowers . . . all without adult supervision. The bold colors, simple shapes and clean lines of the gouache illustrations are in sharp contrast to the details found in the photographic elements cut out and glued onto the artwork. Decorative frames surround the text, reinforcing the topic and adding more information-readers get a glimpse of Riki's journal pages, identify some of the birds in his yard and learn how a bird develops inside an egg. Backmatter includes instructions for building and installing a birdhouse, a recipe for bird-food cupcakes and information about birdbaths, feeders and bluebirds. Bird lovers with young children and aspiring bird watchers are sure to want to emulate Riki. (Picture book. 3-6)

Kirkus Reviews