Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews
Hatch!
Nonfiction Picture Book
For ages 5 to 9
Marshall Cavendish , 2011 ISBN: 978-0761458821
Birds are extraordinary animals. They come in a wide variety of sizes, colors, and shapes. Most can fly, but some, like penguins and ostriches, cannot. Some birds can fly very long distances, while others can fly eight miles above the surface of the earth.
In this book, you will learn about nine very different birds. The author, Roxie Munro, challenges readers by showing them pictures of bird eggs, and asking them if they can guess what kind of bird laid the eggs. Next to her illustrations of the eggs, there is a section of text that provides clues. When you turn the page, all is revealed. You will see an illustration showing the mystery bird in its natural habitat, and you can read about what the bird eats, where it lives, and other facts.
For example, we are told that the third egg we are shown belongs to a bird who cannot fly, but who is “an excellent swimmer” who can “stay underwater for up to eighteen minutes and dive to depths of more than seven hundred feet.” When we turn the page, we see a picture of the bird that laid the egg in its natural environment, and we also see some other animals that live in this unique habitat.
For this splendid book, Roxie Munro has collected fascinating bird facts, which she pairs with her beautiful and detailed illustrations to give young readers a very special reading and learning experience. Children will enjoy trying to guess who the eggs belong to, and exploring the artwork to see the animals that live in the nine different habitats that are featured.
