Review of Kids’ Field Guide to Birds by Daisy Yuhas.
As a birder, I found this field guide to be unique and engaging. It begins with a section on birding basics, covering topics such as binoculars, conservation, and how to use the book. It highlights 80 common birds found in the lower 48 states. The body of the book is divided into eight sections, such as Wetland and Coastal Birds; Urban Birds; and Garden, Park and Feeder birds. Each featured bird has a photo and a section describing its behavior and interesting facts. Woven into the bird descriptions are suggestions for activities such as building a feeder, as well as current topics in bird conservation such as Lights Out in cities.
My 9-year-old granddaughter received this book as a gift. She read it cover to cover and said it was good. She’s not especially outdoorsy, but in a child’s mind this enjoyable book could plant a seed that would germinate later. And for the 8-12 year old who already has an interest in nature or birds in particular, Kids’ Field Guide to Birds is not an overwhelming and dry textbook. Instead, it is a well written and designed book that introduces kids not only to common birds but also the hobby of birding and bird conservation.
Kevin Browngoehl, Birding Club of Delaware County Member
Photo credit:
Children on the beach with binoculars, by Karen Laubenstein, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Public domain.
