Hawks Kettle, Puffins Wheel: And Other Poems of Birds in Flight (Hardcover)
This lyrical celebration of birds explores the fascinating ways these creatures move through the air.
For each of twelve birds from around the world, a captivating poem describes the animal's distinctive movement and the special word associated with that movement, from geese who skein and puffins who wheel, to crows who mob and starlings who murmurate. The evocative language conveys the beauty of each bird and describes the sights and sounds of how each one makes its own unmistakable way in the world. An informational sidebar complements each poem, describing the reasons behind the bird's way of flying.
Award-winning children's author Susan Vande Griek has created a unique exploration of the magnificence of birds in flight. Illustrator Mark Hoffmann captures the animals with bold, highly engaging artwork that makes this book a visual standout among traditional nature books. All of the factual content has been verified by ornithological experts. End matter includes further information about each bird and a glossary. Along with the book's use for poetry units, it also has applications for life science lessons on animals and the characteristics of living things.
For each of twelve birds from around the world, a captivating poem describes the animal's distinctive movement and the special word associated with that movement, from geese who skein and puffins who wheel, to crows who mob and starlings who murmurate. The evocative language conveys the beauty of each bird and describes the sights and sounds of how each one makes its own unmistakable way in the world. An informational sidebar complements each poem, describing the reasons behind the bird's way of flying.
Award-winning children's author Susan Vande Griek has created a unique exploration of the magnificence of birds in flight. Illustrator Mark Hoffmann captures the animals with bold, highly engaging artwork that makes this book a visual standout among traditional nature books. All of the factual content has been verified by ornithological experts. End matter includes further information about each bird and a glossary. Along with the book's use for poetry units, it also has applications for life science lessons on animals and the characteristics of living things.
Susan Vande Griek's writing has won the Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children's Book Award and the Norma Fleck Award for Canadian Children's Non-Fiction. Susan divides her time between Saint Andrews, New Brunswick, and Kingston, Ontario.
Mark Hoffmann is a children's book illustrator, fine artist and professor at Montserrat College of Art in the illustration department. Hawks Kettle, Puffins Wheel is his third book for children. Originally from Minnesota, he now lives with his family outside Boston, Massachusetts.
A fresh and original approach to the study of birds and words.—Kirkus Reviews
Centered on the peculiar and charming verbs describing specific patterns and types of bird flight, this book pairs poetry and prose to explore the aerial behaviors of 12 species.—Publishers Weekly
... engaging and practical.—Quill & Quire
This nice combination of poetry, prose, and illustrations make this a good read-aloud and book to share.—School Library Journal
An elegant introduction to the wonder of flight that will have readers watching the behavior of neighborhood birds long after the book has been absorbed.—Booklist
... sure to be a hit.—CM Magazine
Centered on the peculiar and charming verbs describing specific patterns and types of bird flight, this book pairs poetry and prose to explore the aerial behaviors of 12 species.—Publishers Weekly
... engaging and practical.—Quill & Quire
This nice combination of poetry, prose, and illustrations make this a good read-aloud and book to share.—School Library Journal
An elegant introduction to the wonder of flight that will have readers watching the behavior of neighborhood birds long after the book has been absorbed.—Booklist
... sure to be a hit.—CM Magazine