Bird Builds a Nest (Science Storybooks)

by Martin Jenkins (Author) Richard Jones (Illustrator)

Reading Level: 2nd − 3rd Grade

A gentle, sweetly illustrated concept book takes on physical forces as young children learn about pushing and pulling.

It's time for Bird to build her nest!

Follow her as she pulls a worm out of the ground, lifts some twigs that are just the right size, and pushes the twigs into place. Uh-oh! One of the twigs falls to the ground! But after a day of hard work, Bird's nest is ready and waiting.

Can you guess what it's waiting for?

Using simple, clear language and beautiful illustrations, this engaging story is the perfect introduction to physical forces for very young readers. A final spread with some simple questions promotes discussion with parents, teachers, or caregivers and encourages readers to think about the concepts introduced.

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Kirkus

A worthy...venture into multidisciplinary teaching for very young children.

ALA/Booklist

In an expectant tone and encouraging curiosity, Jenkins' text playfully captures the bird's lengthy task of building a home, with an emphasis on the bird's physical actions, like pushing, pulling, and carrying. Jones' mixed-media illustrations, rendered in muted natural tones, nicely underscore the concepts, especially as the nest gets gradually bigger...Inquisitive little ones will appreciate this approachable STEM- friendly read.

None

Starred Review
Jones's illustrations mirror the text, allowing the youngest readers to create a story without the words but also giving them the pleasure of reading on their own after perhaps just one read-aloud. These illustrations, in their stylized beauty, depict the most basic elements of the natural world and highlight the text's focus on science. The entire reading experience indeed heralds a "beautiful day."

School Library Journal

PreS-Gr 1--This simple book about a bird's nest-building activities is accessible as both a story and a book about science. The title introduces a number of concepts, including gravity, heavy versus light, and pushing and pulling. After being foiled in a tug-of-war by a large, strong worm and settling for a more manageable one, Bird begins building her nest. Youngsters learn how the bird constructs a secure home for her future offspring by gathering, weaving, and smoothing the nest's walls. Large, clear mixed media illustrations reveal a variety of perspectives and will engage listeners. A brief "Thinking about Pushing and Pulling" section explains the forces seamlessly included in the text and an index is appended. VERDICT This new series launch serves as a gentle introduction to scientific principles for the very young. A solid read-aloud for young nature lovers.--Maryann H. Owen, Oak Creek Public Library WI

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Publishers Weekly

In this kickoff to the First Science Storybook series, author and biologist Jenkins follows a bird as it builds its nest, but his real goal is to explore the concepts of force and gravity (which are discussed in an introductory note to parents). Drab shades of rust, brown, and pale blue-green lend a sense of calm to Jones's flattened and slightly abstracted mixed-media images. The bird constructs its nest by pushing and pulling twigs together, then fills it with "softer things" such as feathers and grass: "Can you guess what it's waiting for? Eggs!" Closing questions invite readers to revisit the book with the concepts of pushing and pulling in mind: "Can you find some places in the book where Bird pushes something?" It's a neat way for readers to see science fundamentals at work in nature. Ages 4-6. (Feb.)

Copyright 2018 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes

"Bird Builds a Nest: A First Science Storybook works well as a straightforward narrative that concludes with the toddler-pleasing sight of a nest full of ready-to-hatch eggs...It's become de rigueur to introduce little kids to science concepts, and Bird Builds a Nest is among those with standout illustrations. In fact, Richard Jones's nimble mixed-media compositions, which have the look of cut-paper tableaux, are downright suitable for framing." —Shelf Awareness for Readers (starred review) 

"Jones' illustrations make this a visual pleasure, with a stylized bird in designer earthtones reminiscent of Charley Harper; a petite seven-entry index is included to help listeners "look up the pages to find out about forces." This is an attractive, engaging debut for a promising new series." —Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books 

Martin Jenkins
Martin Jenkins has written many celebrated books for children, including The Emperor's Egg, illustrated by Jane Chapman, and Can We Save the Tiger?, illustrated by Vicky White. Martin Jenkins lives in England, where he also works as a conservation biologist.

Richard Jones is an illustrator with more than fifteen years' experience in the creative arts. He lives in England.
Classification
Non-fiction
ISBN-13
9780763693466
Lexile Measure
-
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Candlewick Press (MA)
Publication date
January 20, 2018
Series
Science Storybooks
BISAC categories
JNF013000 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Concepts | General
JNF003030 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Animals | Birds
JNF051140 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Science & Nature | Physics
Library of Congress categories
Birds
Nests
Physics
Gravity

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