October 1, 2021
Grades K-3 Black-and-orange songbirds dart through the pages of this Backyard Birds series (6 titles) entry. As a level 1 reader, crisp color photographs feature prominently and offer strong visual support of the text, which utilizes short sentences, word repetition, and bolded vocabulary (defined in a picture glossary). Labels are frequently applied to the photos, and, occasionally, a mini sequence of pictures is provided to allow for comparison (such as of the Baltimore, hooded, and Bullock's oriole species) or to reinforce a concept from the text. Young readers will learn about orioles' appearance, diet, nesting habits, migratory flocks, and vocalizations. The only thing missing is a range map to show readers which species they should be looking for in their own yards. Still, this makes a cheerful introduction to a lovely bird.
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