Olivia's Birds: Saving the Gulf

by Olivia Bouler

Overview

One 11 year-old girl can make a difference-as budding ornithologist and artist Olivia Bouler has proven, single-handedly raising over $175,000 for the Gulf Coast oil spill recovery. Devastated by the disaster and eager to do her part, Olivia wrote a letter to Audubon, “11 years old and willing to help” offering her own bird paintings to raise contributions for Gulf recovery efforts. The idea took flight, and Olivia proceeded to send out over 500 paintings, many of which are captured in this lavish picture book that recaps her valiant campaign to save birds affected by the spill.

Written in her own words, this unique introduction to backyard and endangered birds features Olivia's hand-drawn illustrations, bird facts, and full-color photos celebrating Olivia's campaign. Olivia's Birds
supports Audubon's conservation mission, including Gulf Coast cleanup efforts and is printed on FSC eco-friendly paper.

A 2012 Parents' Choice Gold Awards winner!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781402786655
Publisher:	Sterling
Publication date:	04/05/2011
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	10.10(w) x 8.10(h) x 0.50(d)
Lexile:	880L (what's this?)
Age Range:	3 - 8 Years

Editorial Reviews

Eleven-year-old Bouler, who raised more than ,000 for the Audubon Society's Gulf Coast oil spill recovery efforts through the sale of her bird paintings, pairs her artwork with casual, informative passages to create an upbeat lesson on bird identification, habitat, and nature preservation. Birds are organized according to kid-friendly classifications, like "Birds That Live in the Woods" and "Weird & Wacky Birds," including the pyrrhuloxia and Eastern phoebe ("Dogs wag their tails—and so do these birds perched on a branch!"). Bouler's depictions of familiar birds like the Canada goose, bald eagle, and hummingbird are carefully observed and spirited; her vivacious attitude may inspire ecologically minded readers to get involved. Ages 3–9. (May)

Publishers Weekly

It's always a pleasure to find a book that's not just good--it's about doing good …This book features her charming illustrations, captioned with snippets of information about particular species…This makes for a terrific package that should inspire children in lots of ways: to use their talents, to help their communities, and to make a difference in the world.” --Booklist (STARRED REVIEW)

“Her love of birds and drawing gives the book touching beauty and lyricism. The child's straightforward voice is engaging, evocative, and insightful, and her bird-watching advice is spot-on...Budding naturalists, artists, and activists will be inspired ...” --School Library Journal

“…Casual, informative passages…upbeat… carefully observed and spirited; her vivacious attitude may inspire ecologically minded readers to get involved.” --Publishers Weekly

“A lot of artists paint from the heart. This one, though, paints from a broken one.”
- Steve Hartman, CBS Evening News

“What I love is you're inspiring little kids to find a way that they can help as well.”
- Kathie Lee Gifford, The Today Show

From the Publisher

Gr 3–5—An 11-year-old from Long Island spends her vacations on the Gulf Coast with her grandparents. After hearing about the April 2010 oil spill, she volunteered to raise money to save the birds endangered by the disaster. A self-proclaimed "decent drawer," she wrote to the Audubon Society and offered to sell her drawings as a fundraiser (she raised more than $150,000). Her love of birds and drawing gives the book touching beauty and lyricism. The child's straightforward voice is engaging, evocative, and insightful, and her bird-watching advice is spot-on—"And don't just look up. I once found a hummingbird nest on the ground of a wooded area." Her lively drawings capture the avian personalities, often with just a few lines. The letter she wrote is reproduced and she encourages children and adults to participate in environmental causes. Budding naturalists, artists, and activists will be inspired and galvanized by Olivia Bouler.—Frances E. Millhouser, formerly at Chantilly Regional Library, Fairfax County, VA

School Library Journal