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Additional Youth Books

More fiction and non-fiction books for young people interested in birds and nature.

Red DragonflyPlease Note: This list is not exhaustive—check out your local birding store, book store, or library to see what is currently available.

 

Red Dragonfly         Muskrat        Black-capped Chickadee

           Dragonfly                                                       Muskrat                                                           Black-capped Chickadee


PICTURE BOOKS

 

Bird Watch by Jane Yolen, Little Brown. Birdsong by Audrey Wood,
illustrated by Robert Florczak, 1997,
Harcourt Brace & Co., New York, NY
Feathers for Lunch by Lois Ehlert,
Harcourt Brace.		 Grandmother's Pigeon by Lois Erdrich,
illustrated by Jim LaMarche, 1996,
Hyperion, New York, NY.
The Magpies' Nest retold by Joanna Foster,
illustrated by Julie Downing, 1995,
Clarion Books (Houghton Mifflin), New York, NY.		 On the Wing: Bird Poems and Paintings
by Douglas Florian, 1996,
Harcourt, Brace and Company,
New York, NY. 47 pp.
Owl Moon by Jane Yolen, Little Brown. She's Wearing a Dead Bird on Her Head!
by Kathryn Lasky, illustrated by David Catrow,
1997, Hyperion, New York, NY.
"Fascinating tale of how two determined ladies
became classic American activists -- for women,
for social progress, and, of course, for the birds"
by founding the Mass. Audubon Society.

 

 

Dipper of Copper Creek by Jean Craighead George My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George
 
The Moon of the Winter Bird by Jean Craighead George Who Really Killed Cock Robin?: An Ecological
Mystery by Jean Craighead George
Ring of Bright Water by Gavin Maxwell
"Farley Mowat's funniest book tells the adventures
of Wol and Weeps, two owls from Sasketchewan
who shake up a whole neighborhood, turn a house
topsy-turvey, and outsmart dog hero Mutt..."
(from back cover). Ages 9-12.
 Owls in the Family by Farley Mowat, 1996, Laureleaf

The Trumpet of the Swan & other titles, by E. B. White
"Fascinating tale of how two determined ladies became
classic American activists -- for women, for social
progress, and, of course, for the birds" by founding
the Mass. Audubon Society.		  

 

 

 

Amazing Birds by Alexandra Parsons, 1990, Alfred A. Knopf, N.Y.  An "Eyewitness Junior" series book. Lots of color pictures, easy to read. Text and photos describe amazing members of the bird world, including the vulture, flamingo, hummingbird, penguin, pelican, parrot, swan, peacock, and ostrich."

Backyard Birds by Jonathan Pine, 1993, HarperCollins.  A HarperCollins Nature Study Book, illustrated by noted bird artist Julie Zickefoose. A young people's guide to some common backyard birds: House Sparrow, European Starling, American Robin, House Wren, hummingbirds, and Nighthawk.

Backyard Birds of Summer by Carol Lerner, 1994, Morrow Junior Books.		  
Backyard Birds of Winter by Carol Lerner, 1994, Morrow Junior Books. Excellent book of birds likely to be seen at winter feeders. Range maps, nice bird art.

The Big Golden Book of Backyard Birds by
Kathleen Daly, 1990, Western Publishing Company, Racine, Wisconsin. Large format book with large text. Highlights various common birds. Nicely illustrated.
Bird by David Burnie 1988, Alfred A. Knopf, N.Y.
One of the "Eye Witness Books" series. An incredibly fun book to stroll through and read. Lots of pictures, covers a lot of subjects from feathers and flying, courtship, eggs, nest building, to attracting and watching birds.

Birds: How to Watch and Understand the Fascinating World of Birds by J. Bailey and D. Burnie. 1992, Dorling Kindersley Inc. N.Y.
One of the "Eyewitness Explorers" Book series. Well written, well illustrated, lots of good information.
Birds, Nests, and Eggs by Mel Boring and Bird Watching for Kids: A Family Bird Watching Guide, by Steven A. & Elizabeth May Griffin. Take-along guides that help identify birds, NorthWord Press. Ages 8-12.

Birds that Stopped Flying by Elizabeth S. Austin, 1969, Random House, N.Y. Explains why 49 species of birds are no longer able to fly, how they exist today, and their chances for survival in the future.
Cardinals, Robins, and Other Birds by George S. Fichter, 1993, Western Publishing, Racine, Wisconsin.
Beautiful illustrations, well presented facts, simple to read.
 
Children’s Guide to Birds by Jinny Johnson,
an introduction to birds worldwide,
Simon & Schuster.
Crinkleroot's 25 Birds Every Child Should Know by Jim Arnosky, 1993, Bradbury Press, Macmillan Publishing Company, New York.

Crinkleroot's Guide to Knowing the Birds by Jim Arnosky, 1992, Bradbury Press (MacMillan Publishing Co.), New York, NY. 32 pages.
Endangered Birds! 1995, by World Conservation Monitoring Centre, Gareth Stevens Publishing, Milwaukee, WI. Covers 50 species world-wide. 64pp.

Feathered Travelers/Viajeros Alados, a bi-lingual coloring book. Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center, National Zoo, Washington, DC 20008 or fax order (202)673-4916.
Feathers by D.H. Patent, 1992, Cobblehill Books/Dutton, N.Y. Describes in text and photos bird's feathers - from structure, type and color, to various uses.

Fifty Favorite Birds Coloring Book by Lisa Bonforte, 1982, Dover Publications, Mineola, NY
How Birds Fly by John K. Terres, Pat Archer (illustrator), 1994, Stackpole Book

How Do Birds Find Their Way? by Roma Gans, 1996, Harper Trophy, 1996. An easy reader on the concept of migration.
It Could Still be a Bird by Allan Fowler, 1990, Children's Press, Chicago.  Identifies the characteristics of birds and provides specific examples including the penguin, ostrich, peacock, and pelican.
 
Outside and Inside Birds by Sandra Markle, 1994, Bradbury Press, N.Y. Describes and contains graphic pictures of the interior chambers of bird bones, gizzards, the digestive system, heart, etc. May not be appropriate for the squeamish or very young.
The Puffins are Back! by Gail Gibbons, 1991,
HarperCollins. Chronicles the return of Puffins off the
coast of Maine. Features scientists and how they went
about the task of repopulating the islands off the coast
of Maine with Puffin colonies. Interesting for kids since this project is ongoing, the "Puffin folks" are based
at the Lab, and the kids could correspond via email
with the Puffin scientists (through the clasroomfw@cornell.edu address).