Tiny Bird: A Hummingbird's Amazing Journey

by Robert Burleigh (Author) Wendell Minor (Illustrator)

Tiny Bird: A Hummingbird's Amazing Journey
Reading Level: 2nd − 3rd Grade
Robert Burleigh's narrative nonfiction picture book follows a hummingbird’s migration south for the winter, with stunning art by Wendell Minor.

When the last summer flowers open their petals to the sun, it’s time for a tiny ruby-throated hummingbird to dip its beak into the heart of each bloom, extracting as much nectar as possible before the hard trip ahead.

Today is the day Tiny Bird begins its amazing journey south for the winter, traveling as fast as thirty miles an hour for hundreds of miles on end. The trip is long, with savage weather and many predators along the way, but Tiny Bird is built for this epic journey and eventually arrives at its winter home.

This inspiring migratory and life cycle story celebrates the important and impressive feat of a small but mighty creature.
Select format:
Hardcover
$19.99

Kirkus

A fine addition to “sense of wonder” collections.

ALA/Booklist

Starred Review
Kids will be mesmerized by this dynamic portrait of one of nature’s winged wonders.

None

Scientific facts about hummingbird feeding and flight are emphasized in the informative text and the light- and motion-filled illustrations, which skillfully convey the bird's movements.

School Library Journal

K-Gr 2--Each ruby-throated hummingbird migrates alone from North America to Mexico for the winter, a journey of over 1,500 miles. The narrative begins by describing the unique flying abilities of the hummingbird that allow it to hover and dart up, backward and forward as it extracts nectar from the last blossoms of summer. Soon the urge to migrate compels the tiny bird to fly south. The hummingbird, sometimes reaching speeds of 30-miles-per-hour, arrives at the shores of the Gulf of Mexico. During its solo 500-mile nonstop flight across the water, the bird is confronted by crashing waves, leaping fish, and thunderstorms amply illustrated in dark spreads. Many hummingbirds do not survive this ordeal. A one-page "Fun Facts" section amplifies information presented in the narrative. Another section describes how people can make their yards into a hummingbird "dining spot." The endpapers include a map of the hummingbird's migration journey and other facts. VERDICT The narrative and illustrations, though informative, do not quite capture the magical wonder of hummingbirds. Useful as an additional title in large public or school libraries.--Frances E. Millhouser, formerly at Fairfax County Public Library, VA

Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes

A Chicago Public Library Best of the Best Books of the Year Pick

Kids will be mesmerized by this dynamic portrait of one of nature's winged wonders.—Booklist, starred review

The simple narrative is set in short, poetic lines. There's suspense . . . And, there's expressive language, with alliteration, occasional rhyme, and plentiful imagery. A fine addition to sense of wonder collections. —Kirkus Reviews

Scientific facts about hummingbird feeding and flight are emphasized in the formative text and the light-and motion-filled illustrations, which skillfully convey the bird's movements. —Horn Book

Robert Burleigh
Robert Burleigh has written many award-winning children's books, including The Great Zombie Pumpkin Parade!;Abraham Lincoln Comes Home;If You Spent a Day with Thoreau at Walden Pond;Edward Hopper Paints His World; Tiny Bird; and Hi, I'm Norman--all of which were illustrated by Wendell Minor. He divides his time between Wisconsin and Chicago.

Wendell Minor is the illustrator of award-winning picture books for children, including many collaborations with Robert Burleigh: The Great Zombie Pumpkin Parade, Abraham Lincoln Comes Home, If You Spent a Day with Thoreau at Walden Pond, Edward Hopper Paints His World, and Tiny Bird, as well as the New York Times bestselling Reaching for the Moon by Buzz Aldrin. Inducted into the Society of Illustrators Hall of Fame, he lives in Washington, Connecticut, and invites you to visit him on Instagram @wendellminorstudio and online at minorart.com.
Classification
Non-fiction
ISBN-13
9781627793698
Lexile Measure
-
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Henry Holt & Company
Publication date
April 14, 2020
Series
-
BISAC categories
JNF051150 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Science & Nature | Zoology
JNF003030 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Animals | Birds
JNF051100 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Science & Nature | Environmental Science & Ecosystems
Library of Congress categories
Birds
Hummingbirds
Migration
Ruby-throated hummingbird

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