About Hummingbirds: A Guide for Children

by Cathryn Sill, John Sill (Illustrator)

Overview

Educator and author Cathryn Sill uses simple, easy-to-understand language to teach children what hummingbirds are, how they look, how they move, what they eat, and where they live. Illustrator John Sill introduces readers to many varieties of hummingbirds, from the smallest type—the Bee Hummingbird of Cuba—to the largest—the Giant Hummingbirds of the Andes Mountains in South America. An afterword provides details on the hummingbirds featured and inspires young readers to learn more about them.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781561455881
Publisher:	Peachtree Publishers, Ltd.
Publication date:	08/28/2011
Series:	Peachtree About Animals Series
Pages:	1
Product dimensions:	8.60(w) x 10.20(h) x 0.50(d)
Lexile:	770L (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 7 Years

Editorial Reviews

Gorgeous full-page watercolor paintings of hummingbirds accompany a very simple text in this volume of the "About" series. With only one or two sentences per page, the text informs the reader how hummingbirds get their food, what they eat, their size, coloring, and their habitats. Interesting facts, such as learning that hummingbirds can fly in all directions—forward, backward, sideways—liven up the generally dry facts. Curiously, the afterword offers a large paragraph of information related to each of the paintings in the main part of the book. For instance, where the text that accompanies the painting says, "Hummingbirds are small birds that get food from flowers," the afterword explains that there are 325 species, they are only found in the Americas, they live in the tropics, and more. Each illustration is of a certain species of hummingbird and the afterword expands on that particular species. Other information presented in the afterword includes how they hunt, fly, and hover, their size, nests, babies, predators and much more. A glossary, titles for suggested reading, and web sites are included. The illustrations are truly breathtaking, but with so much information tucked in the back matter it seems like children might overlook it or find the presentation too dense. The suggested age range of four to seven is confusing. Four or five feels appropriate for the main text, but children older than that may want more out of the book, while finding the longer information in the afterword too daunting. Reviewer: Amanda MacGregor

Children's Literature - Amanda MacGregor

K-Gr 3—The Sills cover the creatures' diet, size, migratory habits, anatomical features, reproduction, predators, and habitats. Of special interest are their hovering skills and aerobatic displays. Each spread consists of one large-type sentence and a large watercolor depiction with just enough information for youngsters to gain an introduction to hummingbirds. The text and art combine to make this title a useful and engaging read. An afterword elucidates and expands on the details of each painting, offering more information for interested readers.—Nancy Call, Santa Cruz Public Libraries, Aptos, CA

School Library Journal

Sill’s stunning watercolor illustrations depicting the twenty-six species of hummingbirds will immediately spark readers’ interest in these remarkable birds. The illustrations are so lifelike and vivid that one almost expects the birds to fly off the pages and take off into the air. This is a wonderful tool for science class or as research for a written report. The text appears on the right-hand page and a full-page illustration fills the left page of each two-page spread. Information covering a hummingbird’s habitat, diet, coloration, size and remarkable movements is presented in clear, simple language. Much more useful information relating to each of the birds depicted is found in the “Afterword.” There is also a glossary of relevant terms and a bibliography of books and websites for future research. This paperback edition is part of the “About Habitats” series. Reviewer: Sylvia Firth; Ages 6 to 9.

Children's Literature - Sylvia Firth