City Hawk: The Story of Pale Male

by Meghan McCarthy (Author) Meghan McCarthy (Illustrator)

Reading Level: 2nd − 3rd Grade
Based on the true story of a red-tailed hawk that nests on the ledge of a building on New Yorks Fifth Avenue, this picture book brings to life a tale of family, perseverance, and big-city living. A portion of the proceeds of this title will be donated by the publisher to New York City Audubon. Full color.
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Hardcover
$18.99

Publishers Weekly

Featuring similarly spare paintings as Jeanette Winters's "The Tale of Pale Male: A True Story", McCarthy's ("Aliens Are Coming!") book covers much of the same turfand air spaceas that spring release. McCarthy concisely chronicles the true, reportedly unprecedented occurrence of two red-tailed hawks' construction of a nest in the cornice of a swanky apartment building on Manhattan's Upper East Side. From nearby Central Park, a group of bird-watchers who called themselves the Regulars vigilantly followed Pale Male and Lola's every move and rejoiced when two chicks hatched. The other headline-grabbing aspect of these hawks' talethe building's residents, irked by the birds' messy habits, successfully lobbied to get the nest removed, then, in response to passionate protests, reversed their decisionis explained in a lengthy author's note. Combining vibrant and earth tones, McCarthy's unadorned acrylic illustrations have a puckish quality, both her human and winged characters incarnated as amiable bug-eyed creatures who express themselves through the slant of their mouths (or tilt of their beaks). A portion of the proceeds from sales of this book will benefit New York City Audubon. Ages 4-8. "(Sept.) " Copyright 2007 Publishers Weekly Used with permission.

School Library Journal

PreS-Gr 3This delightful picture book provides a glimpse into the world of excited bird watchers as Pale Male (so named because of his light feathers) became the first documented red-tailed hawk to make New York City his home, in 1991. Though the text is minimal, McCarthy deftly conveys the thrill of onlookers as they realized that the hawk was planning to stay, not merely stop off in Central Park as thousands of migrating birds do each year. As people watched day after day through telescopes and cameras, Pale Male took a mate (Lola) and the birds assembled a nest on a ledge of a Fifth Avenue building overlooking the park. After the eggs hatched, admirers waited breathlessly for the babies to learn to fly. The acrylic paintings offer an identifiable Manhattan, complete with beautiful soft colorations depicting seasonal changes and the birds' muted plumage. Whimsy and lighthearted touchesthe huge bug eyes of humans and hawks alike, the expressive faces of Pale Male and Lola, and individualized depictions of the "Regulars" (the most-dedicated observers)keep things appealing to young readers. An appended section on Central Park and an author's note offer fascinating background and historical information. The theme of nature nurtured in our big cities is one of hope and renewal, making this title a must for all collections."Lynne Mattern, Robert Seaman School, Jericho, NY" Copyright 2007 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes

"A must for all collections." — School Library Journal
Meghan McCarthy
Meghan McCarthy is the award-winning author and illustrator of many books for children, including Earmuffs for Everyone!: How Chester Greenwood Became Known as the Inventor of Earmuffs; Daredevil: The Daring Life of Betty Skelton; Pop!: The Invention of Bubble Gum; City Hawk: The Story of Pale Male; Seabiscuit the Wonder Horse; All That Trash; and Action! A graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design, she lives in Brooklyn, New York. Visit her at Meghan-McCarthy.com.
Classification
Non-fiction
ISBN-13
9781416933595
Lexile Measure
670
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books
Publication date
September 11, 2007
Series
-
BISAC categories
JNF031000 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Lifestyles | City & Town Life
JNF003030 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Animals | Birds
JNF037020 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Science & Nature | Environmental Conservation & Protection
Library of Congress categories
New York (State)
New York
Red-tailed hawk
Bird watching

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