Bird Rehearsal Illustrated by Stacy Innerst Abrams (Cameron Books), May 14, 2024
2 Starred Reviews...!
*"An avian chorus whistles, caws, coos, and calls as day brightens and then fades. In a set of luminously hued tableaus, a chorus of bird songs weave between and around Innerst’s richly hued close-up portraits of robins and mourning doves, wrens, cardinals, mockingbirds, and over a dozen other common residents of urban and suburban trees and roosts. To go with art that rewards looking and then looking again, the all-birdsong narrative, read aloud, creates a kind of infectiously joyful mouth music." (Kirkus Reviews, starred review)
*"Readers are cordially invited to a concert of astonishing variety and beauty, with encore performances happening daily: beautiful birdsongs by local artists! The unconventional story is told entirely through birdsong, offering a glimpse of a day through their eyes (and our ears). Readers will delight in sounding out the creatively conceptualized chirps and squawks, and a hilarious concluding cast list offers identification of the noisy neighbors. Dazzling collaged illustrations are a glorious mishmash of bright colors and varied textures, capturing the exuberance of the noisy birds and the ever-shifting glow of daylight. Gather the flock and revel in a rambunctious read-aloud with new fabulous feathered friends." (Booklist, starred review)
"It’s so much more likely that one will hear rather than see birds, so becoming familiar with their calls is an essential skill for hobbyists and researchers. I could see this being a great read aloud for a bird story time, either playing the songs through the Merlin Cornell app or having an expert come in to replicate the sounds. Kids will love creating a riot of noise, each making a unique cry, and then hushing when the raptor is spotted." (Youth Services Book Review)
