This Librarian's Quick Picks: Woodpecker Wham!

Woodpecker Wham!
by April Pulley Sayre
illustrated by Steve Jenkins
Henry Holt (May 12, 2015)
Informational Picture Book

Summary:

Enter woodpecker world and get a bird's eye view of everyday life: hiding from hawks, feeding hungry chicks, and drilling holes to build homes. Woodpeckers are nature's home builders, creating holes that many other animals live in when the woodpeckers move on.

Why You'll Love It:

•  As well as being a great scientific text, the language lends itself naturally to a lesson on onomatopoeia or action words. “Wedge it. Sledge it. / Wham by wham. / Clear those chips. / SLAM, SLAM, SLAM!”
•  Six pages of additional information about woodpeckers add new and interesting details about anatomy, behaviors, and the ways in which people can observe and protect these birds.
• Jenkins' signature cut-and-torn-paper illustrations are vibrant and colorful; a perfect match for the bouncing text.
• Although the text is spare, don't be fooled: Youngsters will learn lots here. Readers learn how these birds forage, build shelter and nests, avoid predators, and instruct their young, among other topics. 

Who Should Read It:

Great for PreK - grade 3.

What Else You Should Read: 

• Egg: Nature's Perfect Package by Steve Jenkins
• Raindrops Roll by April Pulley Sayre
• Bird Talk: What Birds Are Saying and Why by Lita Judge

This Librarian's Quick Picks: Shh! We Have A Plan

Shh! We Have a Plan!
by Chris Haughton
Candlewick (Sep. 9, 2014)
Picture Book

Summary:

Four friends stalk a bird through the forest. The smallest one waves and says hello. “SHH! We have a plan!” say the other three. But will their plan actually work?

Why You'll Love It:

• Chris Haughton limits the palette of his retro-looking illustrations to shades of blue, with the exception of the orange and magenta bird. Flitting from page to page, the bird is as eye-catching to the reader as it is to the friends chasing it.
• Children will relate to the smallest of the four friends. While his larger peers want to capture the bird, he wants to befriend it. His approach eventually proves the right one, attracting multitudes of birds in a pay-off of explosive color.
• A great choice for read alouds, with plenty of possibilities for funny voices and dramatic pauses.

Who Should Read It:

Perfect for PreK-grade 2...and here's the book trailer:



What Else You Should Read:

•  Sam and Dave Dig a Hole by Mac Barnett
• The Book With No Pictures by B.J. Novak