The Gruffalo (Picture Books)
by Julia Donaldson, Axel Scheffler
Average Customer Review:
Hardcover (01 June, 1999)
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Reviews (19)

Absolutely Delightful
What an incredible magical combination of author and artist, and what an outstanding set of books this collaboration has produced.The Gruffalo is an amazing tale that reminds me of many stories I read as a child:It has a wonderful combination of characters like The Little Red Hen, a sequence of events similar to The Old Woman and Her Pig, and the magical elements of many fairy tales.I believe Julia Donaldson is every bit as talented in creating rhyme as the great Dr. Seuss.The language has exceptional flow and makes this a fantastic read aloud book.Both children and adults will marvel at the ingenuity of our tiny hero on his journey, as well as his charm.The artwork is brilliant, and the story is superb.I recommend The Gruffalo for everyone who loves great stories and beautiful children's books.

J.H. Sweet, author of The Fairy Chronicles

One Of The Best!
I read this book to my kindergarten class and they LOVE it! The children act it out, sequence the story through pictures, journal about it and talk about it for months it is one of their favorites and mine too! I love reading it because they get so excited and it is so much fun to read over and over!

A book for all ages, except maybe teens and pre-teens!
I saw an article about Julia Donaldson in The Guardian a couple of weeks ago and was intrigued enough to try to find a copy of the book -- thank you Amazon!The Gruffalo arrived today and lived up to my expectations as a book worth adding to my kiddie lit collection.The story is a simple one, told in rhyme, about a mouse who meets 3 animals and convinces each of them not to eat him because he is going to have lunch with a gruffalo and those 3 animals happen to be the gruffalo's favourite foods.Then he meets a gruffalo and convinces the gruffalo not to eat him because he, the mouse, is the toughest animal in the woods.And the gruffalo becomes a believer as he follows the mouse and all of the animals run away when they see the mouse? or is it the trailing gruffalo.The pictures by Axel Scheffler are well drawn, but what makes the book special is Julia Donaldson's ability to tell the story all in rhyme.She belongs on a shelf next to Dr. Seuss.This book should become more widely known to American parents; it is a real winner and well deserving of the "Smarties Gold Book Prize award.I see that Amazon is out of stock of both the board books and the cd's and tapes.Get with it Amazon and stock up for the Christmas rush! ... Read more

Isbn: 0803723865
Sales Rank: 11275
Subjects:  1. Animals    2. Animals - MiceHamstersGuinea Pigsetc.    3. Children's 4-8 - Picturebooks    4. Children: Kindergarten    5. Fiction    6. Humorous Stories    7. Interactive Adventure    8. Juvenile Fiction    9. Mice    10. Stories in rhyme   

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom (Aladdin Picture Books)
by Jr, Bill Martin, John Archambault, Lois Ehlert
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (01 August, 2000)
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Editorial Review

The 26 characters in this rhythmic, rhyming baby book are a lowercase alphabet with attitude. "A told b, and b told c, 'I'll meet you at the top of the coconut tree'"--which probably seemed like a good idea until the other 23 members of the gang decided to follow suit. Lois Ehlert's chunky block illustrations show the luxuriant green palm standing straight and tall on the first page, but it begins to groan and bend under its alphabetical burden. First the coconuts fall off, then ("Chicka chicka...BOOM! BOOM!") all the letters also end up in a big heap underneath. A very simple board-book version stops there, but this original text goes on to introduce the helping hands of the 26 uppercase "mamas and papas and uncles and aunts." (Baby to preschool) --Richard Farr ... Read more

Reviews (90)

Educational, enjoyable and rhythmic
This became one of our household's favorites almost immediately.
I'm not sure I would use it to teach the alphabet but after it is initially learned it does a good job of:
1. reinforcing and doing so with lower case letters
2. being easy for young children to say along and remember

Great Alphabet Intro
This wonderfully rhythmic book is the perfect introduction to the alphabet for young kids.It's illustrations, although simple, are sufficient to show children the basic form of letters.The story is written more like a song and the words will stay with you and your little ones for the rest of the day!All the letters go up the tree and...uh oh!!!...They all fall down!My only criticism is that the letters are all lower case letters and my boys began learning their capital letters first.This means that my boys don't make the connections between some of the letters in the book and the ones they know.Regardless, it's a silly little story and rhyme that you just can't get out of your head.Chika chika boom BOOM!

I love this book
This is definitely one of my favorite books to read! I honestly am not sure how much educational value it has since you have to kind of read it fast for it to be fun and by reading it fast, it is hard for children to learn the alphabet from. Not out of the question to learn from this book, though.

But other than that, I thoroughly enjoy reading this book and would recommend it to anyone with kids for a good time! ... Read more

Isbn: 068983568X
Subjects:  1. Alphabet    2. Children's 4-8 - Picturebooks    3. Children: Kindergarten    4. Concepts - Alphabet    5. Juvenile Fiction    6. Stories in rhyme    7. Juvenile Nonfiction / Concepts / Alphabet   

Where's Tim's Ted?
by Ian Whybrow, Russell Ayto
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (01 February, 2000)
list price: $5.95 -- our price: $5.95
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Reviews (3)

We LOVE this book!
This is a true treasure!My son (2+ when he received it, 4 now) loves this book and my husband and I love reading it to him!It is so fun to read with the rhyming words and touching idea of a boy sneaking out to find his buddy Ted (a teddy bear).The grandparents help him look for it, but they can't find it so they put him to bed and decide they'll just have to look for Ted in the morning.Even though they give up Tim just can't.He ends up sneaking outside and asks for help from various barnyard animals.After much ruckus Ted is found and the animals help Tim get back into bed.When Granny goes in to check on Tim she finds him in his bed fast asleep.Perfect ending for a night time story and a great book for a little boy.It's a really sweet story and shows a sensitive side to boys without being sappy.If a book should ever be reprinted this should be it!

Storytime Pleaser
I am a children's librarian and this is one of my favorite stories to read to preschoolers. It's funny, not too wordy, and the illustrations are great. It's also mysterious without being too scary for little ones. Unfortunately the copy I have is small and the illustrations aren't big enough to use it in a large group. I hate to see that it is now out of print and I would love to see it reproduced in a larger format.

Fun to read story
I was given this book as a gift and it has become one of my favorites to read to my 10 month old. It is a cute story and is fun to read -- nice rhythm to the story and lots of animal sounds and fun stuff. ... Read more

Isbn: 0764112457
Sales Rank: 1239411
Subjects:  1. Bedtime & Dreams    2. Children's Baby - Picturebooks    3. Children: Preschool    4. Domestic animals    5. Fiction    6. Humorous Stories    7. Lost and found possessions    8. Teddy bears    9. Toys, Dolls, & Puppets   

All Change
by Ian Whybrow, David Melling
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (01 August, 2001)
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Reviews (1)

A favourite book
My son (3 years old) loves planes, trains and automobiles. This story has so many of them (a car, train, boat, plane, dump truck, bicycle, race car, and even a whale!) as it takes you on an adventure whereby when you shout "ALL CHANGE" your mode of transportation changes. The short rhymes are catchy, the graphics are really nice. It's an action-packed adventure to enjoy. ... Read more

Isbn: 0764118854
Sales Rank: 1118225
Subjects:  1. Action & Adventure    2. Bedtime    3. Birthdays    4. Celebrations - Parties    5. Children's 4-8 - Picturebooks    6. Children: Kindergarten    7. Fiction    8. Humorous Stories    9. Juvenile Fiction    10. Stories in rhyme    11. Tigers    12. Transportation - General   

What's Smaller Than a Pygmy Shrew?
by Robert E. Wells
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (01 March, 1995)
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Reviews (3)

A must for the elementary school bookshelf
I found this book when looking for supplemental materials for elementary school science units.This book is a good introduction to the concept of atoms.My sons (7 & 9) enjoyed it immensely; and it provided a good basis for a further discussion of what atoms and elements are.

What an incredible idea for a scientific children's book!
I have had a very hard time finding high-quality children's books in the area of the sciences. (You know... books that are interesting and beautiful in addition to being educational). Thus, when I found this book I was so excited!My 8 yr old and 5 yr old boys were mesmerized by the story line... the author introduces a pygmy shrew that thinks he's small (at three inches long) and then progressively introduces smaller and smaller things (you're not so small, pygmy shrew!) until he delves into the world of one-celled animals and then molecules, atoms, and finally protons, neutrons, electrons and quarks!

Needless to say, this is an amazing introduction into one-celled animals, elements, molecules, protons/neutrons/electrons/quarks (and even the use of microscopes, both optical and electron)... and all delivered at the level of 5 yr old and 8 yr old boys (with very interesting and beautiful illustrations!) and above. I usually try to raid our library for books, but this book is very much worth owning, so as to be able to refresh your child's recollection of the material.I wish I could give it more than five stars!

Fun food for curious minds.
From a pygmy shrew, the smallest mammal, to a ladybug, to an amoeba, to an atom, and even smaller (protons and neutrons, quarks...) this book takes alook at the miniature universe.It is a great book for kids with boundlesscuriosity, and it does not talk down to kids.The concepts are illustratedthrough comparisons; how small each thing is compared with something else. The illustrations are breezy and cartoon-ish. ... Read more

Isbn: 0807588385
Sales Rank: 316882
Subjects:  1. Atoms    2. Body size    3. Children's 9-12    4. Children: Grades 2-3    5. Concepts - Size & Shape    6. General    7. Juvenile Fiction    8. Juvenile literature    9. Nuclear size (Physics)    10. Size perception   

The Mouse and the Motorcycle
by Beverly Cleary, Louis Darling
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (01 September, 1990)
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Editorial Review

"Pb-pb-b-b-b. Pb-pb-b-b-b." With these magic vocables, Ralph the mouserevs up a dream come true--his very own motorcycle. Living in a knothole in a hotel room, young Ralph has seen plenty of families come and go, some more generous with their crumbs than others. But when young Keith and his parents check in to the hotel, Ralph gets his first chance to check out. He has always fantasized about venturing beyond the second floor, maybe even outside. Curiosity overcomes caution, and Ralph must have a go at Keith's toy motorcycle. Soon, the headstrong mouse finds himself in a pickle, when all he wanted was to ride a motorcycle. Lucky for him, the boy understands how it is. When he discovers Ralph in his thwarted attempt to abscond with the toy bike, Keith generously encourages the rodent to ride. He even teaches him the simple trick of starting the motorcycle: "You have to make a noise... pb-pb-b-b-b." The subsequent situations Ralph motors into require quick thinking and grownup-sized courage. The team of Beverly Cleary and Louis Darling has been a great favorite for decades, introducing young chapter readers to Ramona, Beezus, Henry, and of course Ralph the mouse. (Ages 8 and older) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (52)

GOOD CHARCTERAND BOOK!!!!!!!!!!!
Ralph is a cool charcter.This mouse is a mouse with the pbpbbbb sound everywhere!A boy called Keith is giving this mouse a motorcycle becauseof the mouse's kindness (kind heart).When the boy (Keith)was sick, no one could find a tablet for Keith.If you want to know if he (Ralph)could find it get your nose in the book!!!!!! BY,Chen Hao

Amanda Pittard's review: The Mouse and the Motorcycle
This book is about a boy named Keith and a curious mouse named, Ralph.Keith and his family are on vacation and are staying at a hotel, which just happens to be Ralph's home.Ralph is a very curious mouse and when Keith is out of the room Ralph sees a shiny motorcylce.Keith left his toy motorcycle on the table and Ralph decides that he wants to ride it.Ralph ends up falling into a trashcan with the motorcycle.Ralph thought he was a gonner, until Keith comes along and saves him.The boy and the mouse end up developing a great friendship.Keith helps to protect Ralph and his mouse family from the humans who do not want the mice around.Ralph ends up helping Keith out when he is very sick.They end up realizing how important it is having a good friend.The boy and mouse experience many adventures while Keith stays at the hotel.I found this book so exciting that I did not want to put it down.I got sucked into the book and felt like I was experiencing the adventures myself.I learned from this book, that having friends and people who love and care about you are a very important thing to have in life.I was also able to see how Ralph and Keith both matured from their experiences that they shared.If you like adventure and fantasy worlds, this book is a great book to read to get out of the real world for a while.Amanda Pittard

The Mouse and the Motorcycle
To start with, the first Ralph book was about a boy. The boy's name is Keith. ButRalph is a mouse that lives in a hotel. Ralph has a family with cousin, uncles, and aunts. Well, Keith has a mom and dad.

Then one day ralph took the motorcycle. But it was Keith's motorcycle to play with. Well
Ralph didn't know him yet. But the motorcycle fell into a wastebasket . Then Keith found his motorcycle in a wastebasket. But then the mouse pop out and said it was me that touch it. Then they became friends.

Finally, something bad happened to the mouse. Because they had mice poisoning. So Ralph found Keith and said I needed to burro your ambulances Keith said yes so Ralph skewed back to get his family out. So read on and find out what happens. ... Read more

Isbn: 0380709244
Subjects:  1. Action & Adventure    2. Animals - MiceHamstersGuinea Pigsetc.    3. Children's 9-12 - Fiction - General    4. Children: Grades 4-6    5. Fiction    6. Hotels, taverns, etc.    7. Humorous Stories    8. Mice    9. Motorcycling    10. Hotels, motels, etc    11. Juvenile Fiction / Action & Adventure   

Harry the Dirty Dog 50th Anniversary Edition
by Gene Zion, Margaret Bloy Graham
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (30 November, 1976)
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Editorial Review

"Harry was a white dog with black spots who liked everything, exceptgetting a bath." Taking matters into his own paws, he buries his family'sscrubbing brush in the backyard and runs away from home before they can wranglehim into the tub. Harry gets dirty playing in the street, dirtier at therailroad, and dirtier still playing tag with the other dogs. When sliding downthe coal chute, he actually changes from a white dog with black spots to a blackdog with white spots! Of course, by the time he gets home he is completelyunrecognizable to his family--even when he does all his clever flip-floppingtricks. In a stroke of doggy genius, he unearths the bath brush, begs for abath, and the rest is history. Youngsters will completely relate to the urge torebel, the thrill of getting dirty, and, finally, the reassurance of family.Gene Zion and Margaret Bloy Graham's Harry the Dirty Dog, first publishedin 1956 and now rereleased with splashes of color added by the artist herself,is one of those picture books that children never forget. (Ages 3 to 8)--Karin Snelson ... Read more

Reviews (20)

ONE OF THE BEST DOG BOOKS
I THOUGHT I READ THIS BOOK WHEN I WAS LITTLE & DIDN'T CARE FOR IT, BUT I BOUGHT THIS AS OUR TODDLER LOVES DOGS.I DON'T THINK I'VE EVER READ THIS BOOK BEFORE.THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST DOG BOOKS OUT THERE, ALONG WITH BARK GEORGE (BOTH ARE ALOT BETTER THAN HONDO & FABIAN AND THE STRAY DOG- THAT'S HOW GOOD THEY ARE).

Adventure and Drama
Harry runs away to avoid a bath, sending the reading along for a journey through all the dirtiest (and most fun) places in the nearby city streets. Of course all adventurers eventually have to come home. Here the story does a wonderful parody/reversal on the recognition scene in the Odyssey, where it is Harry who can't be recognized for his "disguise" of a black sooty coat with white spots. Eventually though the power of the dreaded bath, he's finally revealed and reunited with his family.

In the bawth, in the bawth
A trip back in time to 1956. Let it never be said that fantastic female illustrators are a new phenomenon. Margaret Bloy Graham's attention to detail and delightful characters back in the day resulted in this lovely tale of a filthy dog. Perusing the pages of "Harry the Dirty Dog", the reader is drawn into a delightful story that encompasses all times and all places. It is a story that has stood up well over the years.

Harry is a white dog with black spots who is NOT fond of baths. After hiding his scrub brush and hi-tailing it away from his home, Harry becomes so terribly dirty that he resembles a black dog with white spots. When his own family doesn't recognize him, Harry must take drastic measures to make his way back into the family's heart.

Harry's an adorable little mutt. The book isn't making any intentional social commentary, but I did love the variety of places Harry got into. Look, he's playing near the construction workers! Look, he's down at the railroad! Look, he's sliding down a coal shoot! It's nice to see jobs in a kids book that aren't all posh upper middle class desk occupations. Admittedly, sometimes the book's published date is obvious. Where, after all, are all the black people? Any minority at all? This is a world full of white white whites. Still, how much do you hold a book accountable for such things when it is thoroughly lacking in any other problems?

Harry's family members look like nothing so much as early prototypes of Harry Bliss (the New Yorker cartoonist who wrote the children's book, "Don't Forget to Come Back"), by the way. Those big black Orphan Annie eyes. Altogether, this is a good book for any adult that wants to remember a time tinged in nostalgia. Kids will feel for Harry, just as they are relieved that he makes back home okay in the end. Any child that loves doggies will adore this book. It may even serve those adults that want a story that applauds the virtues of keeping clean. A fine piece of work. ... Read more

Isbn: 006443009X
Subjects:  1. Animals - Dogs    2. Animals - Pets    3. Children's 4-8 - Picturebooks    4. Children: Grades 1-2    5. Dogs    6. Fiction    7. Humorous Stories    8. Juvenile Fiction / Animals / Dogs   

Dr. Seuss's ABC: An Amazing Alphabet Book! (Bright and Early Board Book)
by Dr. Seuss
Average Customer Review:
Board book (26 November, 1996)
list price: $4.99 -- our price: $4.99
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Editorial Review

BIG R, little r,
what begins with R?
Rosy's red rhinoceros.
R...r...R

From Aunt Annie's Alligator to Rosy's red rhinoceros to a Zizzer-Zazzer-Zuzz, learning the alphabet is bound to be fun with Dr. Seuss. And with this small, sturdy board-book version of his classic ABC book (Dr. Seuss's ABC), even the tiniest tots can indulge in a little alphabetical education. Each letter is featured with Dr. Seuss's unmistakably nonsensical illustrations and text: "Lion with a lollipop," "Camel on the ceiling," "Uncle Ubb's umbrella and his underwear, too." The youngest readers-to-be will get lots of letter practice with the repetitive use of each letter and the easy-to-memorize rhythmic rhymes. Soon your favorite preschooler will be reading this book aloud to you! (Baby to preschool) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (46)

great introduction to Seuss classic
I started reading this version of the book to my daughter when she was 3 months old. Now, a year later, the book is well-chewed and well-loved. She brings the book to me for reading and enjoys turning the pages by herself. She likes pointing out the elements in the illustrations and trying to name them.

I was originally surprised that the original text and imagery were edited, but in retrospect, it makes sense. Board books are meant for babies and toddlers, who are more attacted to simple rhymes and imagery; the original Seuss is too visually complex to be of much interest to the average 18-mo-old, plus it's too long for short attention spans.

But, I'll be upgrading to the original version once my daughter can turn the pages of a regular book without ripping the pages or chewing it up!

My conclusion - a good introduction to Dr. Seuss. Getting the "real" book will be an added surprise and pleasure to the young reader.

My Son's First Favorite Book
As the purists will tell you in their review, this is an abridged version.However, it is a perfectly good abridged version.At six months old, this was the first book that my son would sit still and listen to all the way through.He loved the rhythms of the words in the book, and thus began a long term love of this book.Soon after his second birthday, he had both the upper case and lower case letters of the alphabet mastered.I read this book to him so many times that I can still recite it all the way through (and reciting it to him on long car rides was invaluable!).Now that he is 5 and reads the original version by himself, both of us sometimes get tripped up and start to say what is in the board book (which I should also note is more repetitive than the original, which as we all know babies and toddlers love).So for those who say that the original is "bettter", I would argue it is simply a matter of preference for the familiar.As to those who say let the baby have the original paper-page book--no thanks.Board books are much more sturdy and tolerate the inevitable chewing.Abridged Seuss is still Seuss and my son (and now daughter) love the abridged Seuss board books.And after all the goal is to get our children to love reading.

lilliputian book
The specs in the description say it, so I guess I have no one to blame but myself. But, I took for granted that this would be a normal sized kid book, or even one of the little kid board books. This is a tiny little thing that's smaller than my planner.On top of it all, it's not the same story as I remember, and I have a "real" one on my shelf that I didn't want to give her yet because it was mine from when I was a kid. I thought I was getting a board book version of that, but I guess not.

But little kids are indiscriminating and she would enjoy it if I read Good Housekeeping to her. At least I won't feel too bad when she gnaws it, and it does have the letters in handy toddler format. ... Read more

Isbn: 0679882812
Subjects:  1. Alphabet    2. Children's Baby - Boardbooks    3. Children: Grades 2-3    4. Concepts - Alphabet    5. Juvenile Fiction    6. Stories in rhyme    7. Juvenile Fiction / Concepts / Alphabet   

Full Belly Bowl
by Jim Aylesworth, Wendy Anderson Halperin
Average Customer Review:
Hardcover (01 October, 1999)
list price: $16.95 -- our price: $11.53
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Reviews (2)

What a treasure!
My three children and I read this book over the summer.This is truly a story for all ages.My 10-year-old was as enchanted as his little sister and brother.The story has surprising twists and the most gorgeous illustrations imaginable.I plan to purchase a copy for our home library.It's a book you'll go back to again and again.And with us it sparked some interesting conversations:What would you put in YOUR fully belly bowl?

The Full Belly Bowl
Enhanced by the subltly muted colors of Halpern's illustrations, "The Full belly Bowl" is an excellent lap or storytime book which begs to be read to your favorite youngster or group. Gifted a magical bowl by a "wee small man" he saved from a fox, the old man had it all, until his own forgetfullness filled his cottage with mice.What of themice?What of his cat Angela?Can the old man live happily ever after?Children will love having this one read to them! ... Read more

Isbn: 0689810334
Sales Rank: 253727
Subjects:  1. Children's 4-8 - Picturebooks    2. Children: Kindergarten    3. Fairy Tales & Folklore - Single Title    4. Fairy tales    5. Juvenile Fiction    6. Juvenile Fiction / Fairy Tales & Folklore / Single Title   

Birds of North America: Western Region (Smithsonian Handbooks)
by Fred J. Alsop
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (01 June, 2001)
list price: $25.00 -- our price: $17.00
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Reviews (4)

Gorgeous !!!1
While looking for a gift for an elderly relative who likes to watch birds but is not an avid birder, I happened upon this gorgeous book and was so impressed with it.

It is beautifully organized and illustrated. Birds are described by song, breeding habits, nesting, behavior, migration, population, flight pattern, conservation, as well as by the more obvious characteristics used for identification such as size, head, plummage, tail, markings, trill, and behavior.

Each page is laid out so nicely and with great clarity, and has space for notes on where and when the bird was sighted.

The silhouettes of the birds in flight was an interesting addition to the identification process.

The author(s) also included the variations within each species (variations due to sex, juvenile status, seasonal characteristics, and genetic differences).

One section contained the anatomy of a bird and another the orthinological terms, illustrated. Both were most interesting and added to making birds easier to identify.

Not really a field guide, not really a natural history guide
Once upon a time, people who wished to identify and learn about birds found few books from which to choose.Today, however, there are many, and the competition between them for birders' purchasing dollars is keen.I tend to buy just about any book that bills itself as a "guide to the birds of North America," however, so I recently picked up Fred J. Alsop III's new Smithsonian Handbook.There is much to appreciate and enjoy here, and I can recommend the book as a welcome supplement to anyone's basic bird guide collection (especially people living the western states).However, by itself it is adequate neither as a guide to bird identification nor as a supplemental source of information about bird habits and natural history.

This book is long (752 pages) and definitely hefty.No one but a true masochist would consider carrying it into the field.Consequently, in terms of helping with bird identification, this guide at best can serve as a supplement to other current field guides.In this capacity, the book will indeed be useful with respect to many birds.Each full-page treatment of a species includes lots of useful information, including key field marks, range, vocalizations, distinctive behavioral habits, nesting habits, and even flight patterns.

The key to whether or not this works for particular types of birds lies in Alsop's approach to bird illustration.Here, he relies mainly upon high-quality photographs.For most birds, particularly songbirds, this works adequately.However, as is just about always the case with bird guides illustrated with photos, the results are uneven.Some of the photos are spectacular, but a few are so-so.What's more important, however, is that Alsop's reliance upon a single large photo for each bird precludes adequate illustration of species for which inclusion of more than one picture is essential.This mainly includes species for which flight patterns are important, including gulls, terns, pelagics, hawks, shorebirds, waterfowl, swifts and swallows, and nightjars.This adds up to a lot of species.

Traditional field guides also provide additional illustrations to show immature or fall plumages.Alsop does try to include additional illustrations for some of these plumages, but these extra drawings mostly are so tiny as to be virtually useless.For some species, at least, he would have done better to limit some of the verbal information to accommodate more space for these additional illustrations.

One of the strengths of the book is Alsop's obvious commitment to providing the reader with information pertaining to each bird's behavior, nesting habits, and population/conservation.Because the author is combining this effort with identification material, however, the book doesn't measure up to certain others in terms of being a complete "natural history guide."

To his credit, Alsop includes some extra materials that are welcome and well-done.There is a section on extinct species (including the Ivory-billed woodpecker, which apparently may not be extinct after all), and also some "how to's" on birding as a pastime.

Overall, however, I can recommend this book mainly to people who really enjoy owning lots of bird books.A good strategy for birders generally is to purchase one (or more) good field guides for identification purposes, and then to supplement these with another good book that provides natural historical information.This volume certainly has its uses and contains lots of excellent information, but in trying to be both identification guide and natural history guide, it doesn't truly succeed in either function.

A true all inclusive guide...
This is a wonderful book; each page has a single bird on it with all related information to the bird i.e. migrations (map showing in color what time of year the bird is found where), feeders, identifacation with clear pictures, song of the bird, behavior, breeding, nesting, population, conservation, size, wingspan, family, species, nest identification tips and chart, and habitat locations. In my opinion this book would be classified as a "must have" for a lover of birds and especially for a novice just getting into birds it is a excellent identification tool. ... Read more

Isbn: 0789471574
Sales Rank: 66017
Subjects:  1. Birds    2. Birds & Birdwatching - General    3. Birds & Birdwatching - Guides    4. Canada    5. Canada, Western    6. Identification    7. Nature    8. Nature / Field Guide Books    9. Nature/Ecology    10. West (U.S.)