A Guide to the Nests, Eggs, and Nestlings of North American Birds (Princeton Field Guides)

Average customer rating:

A great book for nest & egg I.D.

Caveat emptor- a fine book in a new cover

A Guide to the Nests, Eggs, and Nestlings of North American Birds, Second Editio

A Good Reference Book, NOT a Field Guide.

Superb reference

A Guide to the Nests, Eggs, and Nestlings of North American Birds (Princeton Field Guides)
Paul J. Baicich , and J. O. Harrison
Manufacturer: Princeton University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Similar Items:

Peterson Field Guide: Eastern Birds' Nests

Peterson Field Guide to Western Birds' Nests (Peterson Field Guides (R) Series)

Bird Tracks & Sign : A Guide to North American Species

Birds, Nests, & Eggs (Take-Along Guides)

Cornell Lab of Ornithology Handbook of Bird Biology

ASIN: 0691122954

Book Description

A Guide to the Nests, Eggs, and Nestlings of North American Birds, Second Edition provides a thorough, species-by-species guide to the breeding biology of the birds of North America. Some 670 breeding species are described in full, covering the birds of a vast area, from the Arctic to the southern boundary of the continental United States. The main text presents complete basic information on the breeding cycle of each species, summarized in a natural sequence: nest habitat, nest-site, nest construction, breeding season, eggs, incubation and nesting and nestling period. More than 700 color and line illustrations provide valuable information on the identification of the nests, eggs, and nestlings of 597 species. The book covers perhaps the most fascinating aspects of North American bird life, their reproduction and the care of their young, essential elements in the survival of any species. The book summarizes all that is known of this crucial part of a bird's life cycle, and by omission, points to what is yet unknown and may yet be discovered by the scientific ornithologist and birder alike. If your fascination in the nests, eggs, and nestlings of North American birds centers on identifying them in the field, you will find this book essential. If conservation is also a concern, you will appreciate the value of understanding the breeding requirements and biology of even the most common of species. This book will prove invaluable whatever your interest in North American birds.

Key Features:

Describes nests, eggs, and nestlings and gives basic biological information on nesting and breeding biology
Includes up-to-date coverage of all breeding species found in North America, including Alaska and Canada in one comprehensive volume
Contains more than 700 color and line illustrations of nests, eggs, and nestlings

Species List by Family:

Loons: Gaviidae. Grebes: Podicipedidae. Shearwaters: Procellariidae. Storm-Petrels: Hydrobatidae. Boobies and Gannets: Sulidae. Pelicans: Pelecanidae. Cormorants: Phalacrocoracidae. Darters: Anhingidae. Frigatebirds: Fregatidae. Bitterns and Herons: Ardeidae. Ibises and Spoonbills: Threskiomithidae. Storks: Ciconiidae. Swans, Geese, and Ducks: Anatidae. American Vultures: Catharidae. Kites, Hawks, Eagles and Allies: Accipitridae. Caracaras and Falcons: Falconidae. Guans: Cracidae. Partridges, Grouse, Turkey, and Quail: Phasianidae. Rails, Gallinules, and Coots: Rallidae. Limpkins: Aramidae. Cranes: Gruidae. Plovers: Charadriidae. Oystercatchers: Haematopodidae. Stilts and Avocets: Recurvirostridae. Jacanas: Jacanidae. Sandpipers, Phalaropes, and Allies: Scolopacidae. Jaegers, Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers: Laridae. Auks, Murres, and Puffins: Alcidae. Pigeons and Doves: Columbidae. Parakeets and Parrots: Psittacidae. Cuckoos, Roadrunner, and Anis: Cuculidae. Barn Owls: Tytonidae. Typical Owls: Strigidae. Goatsuckers: Caprimulgidae. Swifts: Apodidae. Hummingbirds: Trochilidae. Trogons: Trogonidae. Kingfishers: Alcedinidae. Woodpeckers: Picidae. Tyrant Flycatchers: Tyrannidae. Larks: Alaudidae. Swallows: Hirundinidae. Jays, Magpies, and Crows: Corvidae. Titmica: Paridae. Verdin: Remizidae. Bushtits: Aegithalidae. Nutcatchers: Sittidae. Creepers: Certhiidae. Bulbuls: Pycnonotidae. Wrens: Troglodytidae. Dippers: Cinclidae. Old World Warblers, Gnatcatchers, Old World Flycatchers, Thrushes and Wrentit: Uscicapidae. Mockingbirds and Thrashers: Mimidae. Wagtails and Pipits: Motacillidae. Waxwings Bombycillidae. Silky-Flycatchers: Ptilogonatidae. Shrikes: Laniidae. Starlings: Stumidae. Vireos: Vireonidae. Wood-Warblers, Tanagers, Cardinals, Grosbreaks, Sparrows, Buntins, Blackbirds, and Allies: Emberizidae. Fringinlline and Carueline Finches and Allies: Fringillidae. Old World Sparrows: Passeridae.

Customer Reviews:

A great book for nest & egg I.D........2007-01-11

I find it hard to believe that anyone else out there could be as interested in nests and eggs as me, but if you are, this book is a wealth of information that must have taken quite a lot of research to compile.

I work as a biologist and sometimes do breeding bird surveys, and this book is my first stop for info on what a nest looks like, what an egg looks like, or the breeding biology and nesting behavior of certain birds.

I haven't yet tried to ID a nest by shape, size, and construction alone, and I'm a little leery of the idea that an inexperienced person could properly ID a nest without seeing the bird. I don't know if this book could really help you with that.

Caveat emptor- a fine book in a new cover.......2005-08-04

For anyone who owns the second edition with the tern and chick on the white cover, this is just a re-covering of that book. Same good, useful, unchanged reference content, different cover.

A Guide to the Nests, Eggs, and Nestlings of North American Birds, Second Editio.......2005-07-08

I was hoping for something that offer a greater selection of birds. Very limited on varities, species.

A Good Reference Book, NOT a Field Guide........2002-02-17

First of all, let me stress to potential buyers that this book is NOT a field guide. It is however a rather thourough reference book. The authors describe what kind of habitat the birds breed in, what the nests look like, the eggs, incubation, the nestlings, and nestling period. They also tell when the breeding season is. There are very, very few drawings of nests. There are sixteen pages of color plates showing paintings of nestlings. And another forty-seven pages of color plates showing photos of eggs. The smaller eggs are shown actual size, but the larger eggs are shown 3/4's or 9/10's of actual size. Why not go ahead and make them actual size even if it means adding a few more pages? I think this book is a good companion to the Peterson guides to bird nests (where you will see actual bird nests with eggs.) It would be great if David Allen Sibley would write or at least illustrate the ultimate guide to bird nests.

Superb reference.......2000-05-31

"A Guide to the Nests, Eggs, and Nestlings of North American Birds" by Baicich and Harrison is a sorely needed reference to a subject familiar and interesting to both casual birdwatchers and serious ornithologists. Up to now, the standard reference was Hal Harrison's "Birds' Nests" (one for the eastern U.S., another for the west), Peterson Field Guides published in 1975. As the title indicates, these books feature photographs of nests (one picture per species), most with eggs. Many nests (and eggs) look alike, and these books are not especially helpful in identifying nests or their contents. While the Peterson Guide to eastern nests, for example, covered only 285 species, the Baicich and Harrison book covers 669 species nesting in North America.

Baicich and Harrison have created a book that is both practical and beautiful. The first 16 color plates portray dozens of nestling birds -- even the most un-anthropomorphic of us will find many of them cute! A number of the plates show the distinctive "gapes" or open mouths of the nestlings. The rest of the nearly 50 plates are eggs, carefully rendered to show subtle characteristics in color and pattern and displayed to show relative size. For some species, more than one egg is shown to demonstrate variety. These plates are so well done that the varying degrees of gloss are captured, an extremely useful detail. Opposite each plate is a short description of the eggs of the family, a key to the species, and the page number of the text.

The text section contains additional black-and-white sketches of nestlings and nests of many species. Text is concise but thorough, covering breeding habitat, a description of the nest including materials and placement, dates of the breeding season, a description of the eggs including measurements, details on the incubation and nestling periods, and a description of the nestling.

The introductory material is worthwhile as well. A short section on the legal and ethical considerations of studying nesting birds is wisely included. Discussions on each of the items included in the text are presented. These go beyond a simple definition and into some detail. For instance, the paragraphs on eggshell color tell us that newly laid eggs can briefly have a pinkish hue; the types of pigments that color eggshells; that while there might be variation within the species, each female usually lays consistently-colored eggs; and what causes abnormally colored eggs. The mechanics of hatching and the types of nestlings and their anatomy are also covered. Next, there is fine text on responsible nest-finding techniques and an overview of nest monitoring and recording schemes. Finally, there are three keys: Nests, Eggs, and Young nestlings and chicks.

Book Description

Rooster is spreading the word: Hurry! Hurry! All the animals rush to the barn--and arrive just in time to greet the tiniest member of the farm family, hatching out of his egg.

Eve Bunting's simple energetic text and Jeff Mack's colorful art come together in a joyful book that's perfect for preschoolers.

Customer Reviews:

Great for 1-2 year old.......2007-07-23

Our son loves this book so much! He is 21 months old and each beautifully illustrated page only has a couple words on it so he can memorize them and read along. We got it from the library but when it was time to return it, we had to have our own copy so we bought it from Amazon!

Pairs large, colorful drawings by Jeff Mack with the zany story of animals rushing to view an event.......2007-05-13

Eve Bunting's HURRY, HURRY! tells of a big day in the barnyard, and pairs large, colorful drawings by Jeff Mack with the zany story of animals rushing to view an event. The very young will appreciate the easy reader, which offers several words in big letters, plenty of action, and colorful pictures parents can easily use to help reinforce sounds and words.

Eve Bunting does it again! .......2007-03-09

In this charming children's book, Bunting captures the excitement and anticipation of a new baby as well as the celebration once they arrive.

All the animals on the farm are so excited! The repeating language conveys a real feeling of urgency on the farm. But where are all of the animals rushing off to? Jeff Mack's illustrations begin calmly and develop an increasing intensity, driving you to keep turning pages at an ever-building pace. You easily gets drawn into the growing excitement. Both the words and illustrations again slow us down and we almost hold our breath in anticipation of the hatching chick. You will erupt with joy right along with the animals to greet the new baby chick.

The beauty of this book lies in how the words and illustrations are seamlessly woven together to create an ever-building pace, a moment of breath holding and an inevitable release of joy.

This book would be a great way to introduce the idea of a new baby in the family to a toddler. The repeating words, lively pictures and loving story are perfect for the early preschool set.

Armchair Interviews says: Nice way to talk about a new baby.

LOVE IT.......2007-02-27

There is some excitement at this farm. The animals all run about rushing each other to the hen house! What could the excitement be? Why a little chick is about to hatch! Come on down to the farm and join the fun!

The book is short and easy to read. The theme is farm animals and most kids love book on this topic.

Yes My 2 year old loves this book! She wants to read it over and over!

Avian Incubation: Behaviour, Environment, and Evolution (Oxford Ornithology Series, 13)

Average customer rating:

Avian Incubation: Behaviour, Environment, and Evolution (Oxford Ornithology Series, 13)

Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Avian Growth and Development: Evolution within the Altricial-Precocial Spectrum (Oxford Ornithology Series)

ASIN: 0198508107

Book Description

This is the first scientific review of all factors affecting incubation in avian nests. These range from nest construction, egg characteristics and patterns of embryonic development. There is an extensive section describing incubation behaviour of parents and embryos, and there are chapters reviewing brood patch physiology and the various factors determining the incubation environment, including nest microbiology. Another section provides chapters giving detailed descriptions of examples of unusual aspects of avian incubation, whilst the final section provides consideration of the ecological, energetic and fitness cost of incubation. Written by authorities in their respective fields from around the world, this provides a comprehensive review of this critical aspect of avian reproduction. Much of the data included has not been previously published, and so Avian Incubation is not only an extensive reference text but is also a valuable contribution to our basic understanding of incubation.

Peterson Field Guide: Eastern Birds' Nests

Average customer rating:

Excellent for bird watchers
How did they do this?
Very Helpful
Not Many Like This Out There
Unique and excellent resource for birders.

Peterson Field Guide: Eastern Birds' Nests
Hal H. Harrison
Manufacturer: Houghton Mifflin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Birdwatching | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0395936098

Book Description

This guide includes the nest and eggs of 285 species found in the 26 states east of the Mississippi River. Descriptions of breeding range and time, habitat, and nests and eggs are enhanced by 222 color photographs.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent for bird watchers.......2007-05-15

I was giving a class on monitoring bluebird boxes and I needed to show people the nests of predators and other birds that use the bluebird boxes. I wanted people to be able to see the difference between the nests built by bluebirds as compared to house sparrows, for instance. Also, I needed to show the different colors of eggs.

This book was absolutely essential for this. Once examining the photos in the book and reading the text, people were easily able to identify the different kinds of nests that had been built in the boxes we were monitoring.

How did they do this?.......2006-10-28

I discovered this book while doing coursework at a teacher institute in northern Wisconsin. Like many amateur naturalists, finding an egg that has fallen from a nest is a momentous event, but I wasn't always sure of the bird that laid that egg. While I still might need to actually connect the actual bird with the egg visually, this guide goes a long way toward narrowing my choices.

A list of characteristics, such as oval, long and short pyriform shape, is clearly illustrated in a chart on the endpaper, accompanied by a ruler for measuring in the field. Most incredible to me are the photographs of bird nests in site containing typical egg clutches. Anyone who is a birder knows that these nests are very often difficult to access, as high as 80 feet up a tree! For the photographers to have not only located, but photographed, all these nests is nothing short of remarkable--and helpful. Detailed descriptions accompany the photos. The book is arranged in taxonomic order, making it easy for those of us used to this arrangement.

The average birdwatcher will probably be happy with a basic field guide to identify birds by sight. For those of us who always need "just one more field guide," this guide to nests is a unique addition to that ever-growing library.

Very Helpful.......2005-08-15

We used this book as part of a homeschool/4H project to identify nests that we had found on our property. Using the detailed nest descriptions, photographs of the nests, and sketches of the birds (along with our pocket guide to Wisconsin birds) we had a great time identifying our nest collection. The book's organization makes it easy to narrow down the identification possibilities.

Not Many Like This Out There.......1999-06-10

This is a highly recommended book for identifying bird's nests. It's amazing to see all the different types of nests that birds make. These creatures have true workmanship. It must have been a great challenge for the photographer(s) to find and photograph all the different nests throughout this fascinating book. You don't see many books out there on the market like this, so I recommend it.

Unique and excellent resource for birders........1998-12-10

This book has information which to my knowledge cannot be found anywhere else. The photographs of nests and eggs must be seen to be appreciated. It is not difficult to identify a bird on the basis of its nest or egg using this book.

Where Do Chicks Come From? (Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science 1)

Average customer rating:

For older end of age range
Where Do Chicks Come From?

Where Do Chicks Come From? (Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science 1)
Amy E. Sklansky
Manufacturer: HarperTrophy
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0064452123
Release Date: 2005-02-01

Book Description

Read and find out all about eggs -- and how baby chicks grow inside of them. Learn how chicks develop,how they get the food they need to grow, and how a mother hen helps keep them safe in this simple introduction to the life cycle of a baby chick.

Customer Reviews:

For older end of age range.......2005-09-12

I picked this up at our local library after we watched chicks hatch at a display at our local fair. This was a little too much information for my 4 1/2-year-old. We have read many Stage 1 books from this series; this is the first one I've seen at this level that addresses reproduction. In very simple terms it talks about "mating" and "fertilization." Be prepared to respond to questions about this topic.
The other Stage 1 books I've read with my son seem to be shorter, with fewer words. He has begun to pick out some sight words and the simpler books work well for that. In my opinion, this one might have been better rated for the Stage 2 level in this series.
I will certainly return to this book with him. It is well written with accurate information and has clear illustrations.

Where Do Chicks Come From?.......2005-05-10

My kids loved this book. Even I learned a few things.

Birds, Nests, & Eggs (Take-Along Guides)

Average customer rating:

Interesting for 6-year old granddaughter
awsome book!
Excellent learning tool!
Me and my 3 year old love it

Birds, Nests, & Eggs (Take-Along Guides)
Mel Boring
Manufacturer: Northword Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 155971624X

Book Description

Each book: - Helps children identify different species. - Features detailed true-to-life illustrations. - Has fun activities and projects.

Customer Reviews:

Interesting for 6-year old granddaughter.......2005-10-14

Meredith was immediately interested in the guide and it has accompanied her on outings (so say her parents).

awsome book!.......2001-04-11

Birds, Nest ,and Eggs Mel Boring Reading Level 4.8

Birds, Nests, and Eggs is an excellent book. It is great for a book report or just to read for fun. It is about birds and what kind of tree they nest in. It also tells you what kind of calls they make. It shows you how long it takes for the eggs to hatch and when they learn how to fly. They show you how the birds trick you. They show you how to do some experiments. Again I strongly recommend it.

Excellent learning tool!.......2001-01-23

I purchased 5 books of this series for my five year old daughter for Christmas, as she wanted a "field guide" like her older sisters when exploring our 45 acres of woods. After reviewing these books before giving them, we decided to use them as part of our science program for our home school. These books have bright and colorful pictures, short accurate explanations of the animal, their habitat, eating habits, and even some of the popular anecdotes that go along with the animal. (For example, the myth about the stripes on the wooly bear caterpillar in relation to the length of winter) It has the appropriate warning for studying certain animals and tips on studying nature in general. What we enjoy most is that many of these animals can be found in our back yard to furthur study. Each book deals with three types of animal, such as Caterpillars,Bugs, and Butterflies. They are separated into sections dealing with each type. At the end of the section is a wonderful hands-on project the child can basically do on their own within the recommended age group (9-12) or with some assistance for a younger age group like my daughter. This particular one is a little different in that instead of having three sections, it is one section dealing with each type of bird, incorporating their nests and eggs, with the projects interspersed throughout. My 5 year old begs us to read these books to her and loves the projects. I highly recommend this book and others in the series for those who want their children to learn about nature and how to respect it.

Me and my 3 year old love it.......2000-11-03

I was so glad I bought this book for my kids. My 3 year old and I look at it nearly every night (it's his first choice). After only a few times, he was able to help me name all of the birds. He has even recognized one or two in our yard. It's an easy read, with great illustrations, a great book for beginning bird watchers!

Average customer rating:

Fun, delightful book
My daughter's new favorite book

Emma's Eggs
Margriet Ruurs
Manufacturer: Fitzhenry and Whiteside
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0773729720
Release Date: 1996-10-01

Customer Reviews:

Fun, delightful book.......2001-08-31

The story of Emma, the chicken, and her amazement and confusion at what the farmer and his family seem to expect from her and her eggs is a joy to read. It has a repeating catch-phrase of "No, no, no, Emma, that's NOT what you do with eggs!" that kids will enjoy saying along with you, and it turns around at the end to their joyfully exclamation of "Yes, yes, yes, Emma, THAT'S what you do with eggs!" The illustrations are a match for the story - Emma's facial expressions and body language make me want to smile every time. I highly recommend this book - I know my three-year old will want to hear this book for many years to come.

My daughter's new favorite book.......2000-03-01

Emma's Eggs is the cutest story of a chicken doing her best to please her owners. When she sees one of her eggs get scrambled, she tries to scramble the next one herself. Problem is, the farmer and his family are not pleased with her efforts. So it goes with each of her eggs, until she finally decides to sit on her egg and refuse to give it up. You can guess what happens with that final egg. The best line in the book: "Emma fitted on her nest like the lid on a cookie jar." The illustrations are wonderful; the expressions on Emma's face are priceless. This was an instant hit with my daughter, and she giggles every time she reads it. I highly recommend this book!

The Nesting Season: The Bird Photographs of Frederick Kent Truslow

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The Nesting Season: The Bird Photographs of Frederick Kent Truslow
Frederick Kent, Truslow
Manufacturer: Viking Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: 0670605050

Keeping Pet Chickens: You don't need much space to Enjoy the Bounty of Fresh Eggs from Your Own Small Flock of Happy Hens

Average customer rating:

Chickens!
Wonderful beginners book
good for beginners
Brilliant

Keeping Pet Chickens: You don't need much space to Enjoy the Bounty of Fresh Eggs from Your Own Small Flock of Happy Hens
Johannes Paul , William Windham , and Joe Stahlkuppe
Manufacturer: Barron''s Educational Series
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Accessories:

ASIN: 0764132628

Book Description

When fresh eggs are needed for the kitchen, what could be better than going out to the back yard and collecting them, courtesy of home-bred chickens? Food simply doesn't come any fresher, and the good news is that keeping two or three chickens is quite easy. They don't require farmland or much special equipment, and today's modern chicken houses are designed so that anyone with even a little backyard space can keep chickens. The authors of this enlightening new book offer essential advice, provide the basic, easy-to-follow chicken-raising facts, and present their information in clear jargon-free text. Keeping Pet Chickens is arranged as a series of clearly-captioned pictorial spreads, each of which focuses on a particular topic of importance to chicken owners. Topics covered include pure breeds and hybrid chicken varieties, maintaining daily routines, catching and handling hens, keeping chickens in good health, and much more. Sidebars on every two-page spread present additional information and fascinating facts about chickens and chicken raising. Approximately 100 color photos.

Customer Reviews:

Chickens!.......2007-09-11

I learned a lot about chickens from this book -- very informative, great pictures of different breeds of chickens, pictures and info about chicken coops, feeders, etc., lots of tips and information about how to care for your chickens -- this is a book I will go to a lot. Well written, I enjoyed it.

Wonderful beginners book.......2007-01-08

I know absolutely nothing about keeping chickens, so this book helped me alot. It is full of detailed facts about anything you would ever need to know about owning and keeping a flock of chooks in a productive and happy environment. Great for beginners like me!

good for beginners.......2006-05-14

This is a cute little book, but a very slim volume indeed. I've been considering getting some pet chickens for the backyard but I don't want to do it for some time (I want to wait and see how the whole bird flu thing plays out), so this was a fine introduction for me. It covers the basics of feeding, cleaning up after, and maintaining a home for your chickens. I have a better idea now of what kind of effort will be involved in keeping a few hens, how many eggs I can expect, and what kind of modifications the backyard will need. But I don't think you can rely on this book alone if you are already serious about adopting some chickens and need a thorough reference volume. There is very little information here about looking after the birds' health, for instance, and they only give information about a handful of breeds.

Note: this book is written by the makers of the Eglu, which is a pre-fabricated plastic chicken coop for people who just want 2 or 3 chickens as pets. The writers do not identify themselves this way, but I have checked the Eglu website, and the same bearded guys appear on it. To their credit, they discuss how to clean and care for traditional wooden coops as well. But this book also comes free with any purchase of an Eglu. So if you think you might get an Eglu, you might as well not buy this book now since you'll get it for free later.

Brilliant.......2005-12-15

This is an excellent book if you are looking to have just a few chickens in your back yard for eggs and/or are a beginner. It also shows how chicken keeping has moved into the 21st century with the wonderful Eglu, as well as showing the different types of chicken housing available. Perfect and well recommended.

Average customer rating:

Great Non-fiction Book for the Preschool Set
good companion for the 'March of the Penguins' movie
A gem for your collection
Educating and humorous
Excellent for Dads to read to the Kids

The Emperor's Egg: Read and Wonder
Martin Jenkins
Manufacturer: Candlewick
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0763618713
Release Date: 2002-08-26

Amazon.com

Can you imagine spending a freezing cold Antarctic winter outside, with no food for miles around--maybe even a hundred miles? This is what the male emperor penguin does. After his mate has laid her egg, she takes off for the ocean where she swims about, getting plump on squid and fish, while Papa stands around keeping the egg warm for two entire months! Martin Jenkins's remarkable picture book about an extraordinary bird is sure to be an immediate favorite with children of all ages. In a compelling example of truth being stranger than fiction, he tells the story of the unusual habits of this largest of the penguin family (there are 17 kinds!). Jenkins's enthusiastic fascination for this polar phenomenon comes through loud and clear in his changeable font sizes and humorous personal asides ("So that means two whole months with an egg on your feet and no dinner! Or breakfast or lunch or snacks. I don't know about you but I'd be very, very miserable.") Jane Chapman's fantastic, realistic illustrations of the penguins will make readers chuckle, just as they would at the zoo upon seeing the real thing. Don't miss this book--it's wonderful! (Ages 4 to 9) --Emilie Coulter

Book Description

Fabulous facts about nature's most devoted dad, in an utterly charming picture book.

Can you imagine spending the winter outdoors in Antarctica without anything to eat? That’s just what the male Emperor penguin does. While his mate is off swimming and catching loads of fish, he stands around in the freezing cold with an egg on his feet for two whole months, keeping it warm and waiting for it to hatch. Welcome to the story of the world’s most devoted dad!

Customer Reviews:

Great Non-fiction Book for the Preschool Set.......2005-09-01

I purchased this book for my three year old after I took him to see "March of the Penguins." He loves it! It's a really great companion for this movie as it follows the story line almost exactly. For a long time he had to carry it around the house with him everywhere - even to bed at night. This book has great illustrations. It is a little "text heavy" for his attention span - but it's easy to just skip over some of the more "science -y" parts.

good companion for the 'March of the Penguins' movie.......2005-08-28

I have a penguin-mad 4 yr old who can't understand why I can't go buy him the 'March of the Penguins' dvd yet. This book is a close substitute until that happens. It follows the movie pretty close without the munching and dying. He is pleased... for now. Very sweet and fun to read.

A gem for your collection.......2002-11-07

I collect books specifically about the emperor penguin breeding cycle. When I choose a book, I want the emperor penguin pictures to be fairly accurate (not cartoony or wacky) as well as beautiful, vivid, elegant, etc.. And I want the writing to reflect love for the story of these penguins.

I love this book.

Educating and humorous.......2000-06-04

What a fabulous book! I laughed out loud ... and actually learned a thing or two about Emperor penguins. A great choice for Father's Day - shows the importance of dads in bringing up little ones (penguins, in this case), which is refreshing. Makes a great read aloud for one-on-one, or in group settings, with just the right language to keep preschoolers interested while teaching them about penguins.

Excellent for Dads to read to the Kids.......1999-11-23

This nature book is wonderful as it tells of the story emperor penguin's unique habits at the kids level and in their language. At the same time there are little footnotes which answer most of the 'why' questions from the kids that arise out of the text. ( so parents appear all knowing) The illustrations are beautiful. My daughter was so enthusastic about this book the I wanted to pop on the plane to Edinburgh, Scotland and show my daughter the Emperor penguins in real life. ( I think Antartica in the middle of winter isn't an option). Nevermind, perhaps Jenkins and Chapman will write about the little blue penguins, which are in Boston, next.

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