The Tale of Pale Male: A True Story

Book Description

Here is the incredible true story of a Red-tailed Hawk that makes himself at home in the most unlikely of places--atop a high-rise apartment building in New York City. Named Pale Male by his many fans, this majestic bird not only endures in this urban environment, he thrives. But when the residents have Pale Male's nest removed from their building, a historic battle--and triumph--ensues, uniting bird lovers everywhere.

With Jeanette Winter's beloved folk art-inspired illustrations and soulful insight into the spirit of this beautiful hawk, this is a book that will delight nature enthusiasts of all ages.

Includes an author's note.

Customer Reviews:

High-flying fun.......2007-04-24

"The Tale of Pale Male" is a gussied-up true story for the Picture Book set. Remember Pale Male--a Red-tailed hawk--and his Fifth Avenue perch? (Mary Tyler Moore lives in his building.) Remember how Pale Male brought his gal pal Lola to his favorite spot and they built a nest? Remember the birdwatchers down below and the momentous birth of two "hungry chicks"?

Pale Male and Lola set off a media storm when they build their huge nest and begin circling the skies of Manhattan. People lined the street to watch the birds fly and the chicks hatch. Winter chronicles their story and their abrupt eviction from 927 Fifth Avenue when downstairs neighbors complain of the "evidence of Lola's meals" falling on "to the balcony below." (Note: Winter includes only bones, leaves, and twigs in this "evidence.") Media and public outrage follow culminating in the restoration of Pale Male's home.

Winter successfully combines two stories in "The Tale of Pale Male." On the one hand it's the story of people standing up for nature even in the heart of Manhattan. On the other hand, it's a nature story--we learn how Red-tail hawks build nests, what they eat, and how they live.

Winter's pallette of grays, purples, and teals beautifully suits Pale Male's city life, especially when contrasted with the opening pages illustrated in the greens, blues and browns of a Red-tailed hawk's life in nature. An "author's note" at the end of the book gives us the straight story.

"The Tale of Pale Male" is best suited for readers ages four to eight. School-aged children in kindergarten through second grade will especially like "The Tale of Pale Male" at story time. Its dual story line will appeal to city slickers and nature lovers alike.

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charming illustrations, wonderful story
The True Story of Stellina
The True Story of Stellina
Little Star
Charming

The True Story of Stellina
Matteo Pericoli
Manufacturer: Knopf Books for Young Readers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
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An Egg Is Quiet

ASIN: 0375832734
Release Date: 2006-03-14

Book Description

Stellina was a bird: “CHEEP.”
A very little bird: “Cheep! cheep!”
So begins critically acclaimed author Matteo Pericoli’s all-true story of how he and his wife, Holly, came to rescue and raise a little finch, Stellina, in the middle of New York City. When no zoo would take the abandoned bird, fallen from her nest onto a busy street, Holly took her home and gave her the best life she could. And there, in a Manhattan apartment, Stellina leaned how to eat, fly, and sing.

Customer Reviews:

charming illustrations, wonderful story.......2007-04-06

This illustrations in this book are refreshing-- they are charming without being kitsch. They pique the imagination without surpressing it as some of the more photorealistic illustrations in childrens books tend to do.

Beware-- this book does deal with death, but it does so in a very gentle way. My children loved this book. I enjoyed it as well. The repetitive style also makes it suitable for younger children (older babies/toddlers) despite its length.

The True Story of Stellina.......2007-01-09

This is a wonderful story about a couple who find an abandoned baby bird in a busy intersection and take it home to raise it. It is very touching because of their love that grew for little baby Stellina. She became a member of their family. My grandchildren love this kind and tender story and want me to read it to them again and again. The artwork is also delightful. I recommend this book for children and adults alike. My grandchildren are 2 to 9 and they all love it.

The True Story of Stellina.......2006-11-10

This is a beautifully told story that is very refreshing and sensitive, bringing tears to adult eyes and causing smiles and cooing in the young listeners. The ilustrations are delightful. Nothing but praise for this children's book.

Little Star.......2006-05-18

I was in the American Museum of Natural History last month, or rather, in their gift shop (honestly, is there any better place to shop for kiddie stuff?) when I noticed Pericoli's impressive rendering of the city skyline, Manhattan Unfurled, on prominent display.

I knew that on my shelf sat a more humble volume of his, about a single bird and not an entire cityscape. Stellina was a finch chick rescued by his wife, Holly, when she heard its tiny peeps at her feet above the roar of traffic.

While a press release and the book itself make much of the love that sprung between rescuer and foundling, I was struck more by Pericoli's obvious awe of his wife. He dotes on the way she fed the bird by trickling juice down her pinky, or played piano to inspire it to sing, or schlepped it in a plastic box whereever she went until it was old enough to be left alone in her tiny apartment.

He also refers to her as "Holly, my wife" on every single reference, in case you miss it. An end note explains she was only his future wife when Stellina peeped into their lives, and further confuses matters by saying a security guard first rescued the bird. There is no guard in Pericoli's narrative.

There is, however, what appears to be a lovely, stylized rendering of Holly, with an elongated nose and slender frame, dabbled with just enough watercolor to suggest her clothes or Stellina's plumage. Pericoli's use of pigment is like his spare prose, giving us only what's essential:

"It was evening when Holly, my wife,
decided to take Stellina home with her.

"They sat together for a while,
looking at each other,
and both must have wondered:
'And now? What's going to happen now?'"

Stellina finally died after eight years as Holly's well-tended pet, probably a better lifespan than she could've expected in the wild (I'm guessing). This tribute to the bird -- but really to its keeper -- is much like a splotch of warm color in the big, gray city.

Charming.......2006-04-13

One of the honors of being a school librarian is the opportunity to be there for some of the small but very important moments of your students lives.

Reading The True Story of Stellina reminded me of an early morning visit from a student who came in before school and asked "Do we have any books on birds?" Well, what do you want to find out about birds? Is this for a report? Is there any special type of bird you are looking for?

She was clutching a shoebox and slowly lifted the lid and began to explain how she had found-this-baby-bird-on-the-sidewalk-on-the-way-to-school-and-she-had-run-run-all-the-way-back-home-to-find-a-shoebox-and-now-she-had-it-in-the-box and-see-the-sticks-and-leaves-she-had-added? She needed to find out how to take care of the bird so she had come to her library to get help.

We ended up enlisting the help of our school nurse who is a professional 4-H mom, and has raised just about every kind of animal imaginable. I cannot remember now what happened to the bird but my young friend would have been enchanted by this gentle story.

Matteo Pericoli's wife hears a "cheep" and finds a baby bird on the noisy streets of Manhattan. She takes the little bird home and manages to feed it and care for it. Stellina lives and thrives and repays the couple with companionship and love for eight years. The drawings are light and delicate like the bird whose story they are telling. I am looking forward to sharing it with kids. They will be charmed.

Average customer rating:

THE BEST GUIDE ...
A bargain
New York City Handbook

New York City Handbook
Christiane Bird
Manufacturer: Moon Travel Handbooks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Guidebooks | Reference & Tips | Travel | Subjects | Books

General | Travel | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1566911036

Book Description

As quirky and full of life as the city itself, this expansive guide covers the Big Apple the way New Yorkers know it: neighborhood by neighborhood. Organizing the city's sights, practicalities, and offbeat pleasures geographically, Christiane Bird puts insider attractions at readers' fingertips: Whether they're looking for ginger ice cream in Chinatown, a wax museum in Harlem, or a posh supper and dance club in the Upper East Side, New York City Handbook will lead them to it.

Customer Reviews:

THE BEST GUIDE ..........2001-01-10

This excellent handbook is arranged by neighborhoods, allowing you to find all the places of interest in your immediate area without flipping back and forth. In addition, for the person that was looking for a particular type of food/etc. (that could be anywhere in the city), the author includes an appendix which has restaurants (listed according to cuisine), accommodations (listed by price), museums (by type), shopping (by type of item). The restaurant descriptions were concise and extremely accurate and included the average entree price (as a dollar amount rather than a range). The author also tells what the establishment is famous for (if anything) and the type of crowd it draws.

In addition to clever organization and attention to detail, this guide is filled with many humorous and intriguing histories of numerous places that I've actually been but until now didn't have any idea about. For example, in a sidebar entitled "Only in New York" the author refers to the gorgeous 23-acre Riverbank State Park built on top of a sewage treatment plant.

After looking at every guide in a large bookstore (for over an hour), I decided to purchase 3 guides each with a different strength. After 'reading' them more carefully it became clear that The New York City Handbook is without a doubt the most useful and most interesting. One guide had a stronger coverage in specialist shops the other guide had more information, but it was much less readable and not totally necessary. My suggestion is if you must buy only one guide, buy this one.

A bargain.......2000-12-16

It was my bad luck to discover this book only after visiting Manhattan, but the fact that it was still an interesting read says a lot. Organized by neighborhoods, the flavor of each one is vividly and fairly described. Many interesting historical facts are thrown in, yet none intrude on the presentation of New York City as it is today. A nice surprise was a subtle sense of the author's kindness (yes, in New York!)throughout. While no guidebook can cover everything, this one will surely help anyone get the most out of their visit in a city that's too big and too interesting to waste any time in.

New York City Handbook.......2000-03-28

From Times Square to Central Park, this fun to read guide to the Big Apple is full of indepth information to guide readers through its wonderland. It puts the "new" back in "New York."

Birds of New York City: Western Long Island & Northeastern New Jersey (City Bird Guides)

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Birds of New York City: Western Long Island & Northeastern New Jersey (City Bird Guides)
Chris Fisher , and Andy Bezener
Manufacturer: Lone Pine Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Birdwatching | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books

Reference | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books

Birdwatching | Outdoors & Nature | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books

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New York City Birds
The New York City Audubon Society Guide to Finding Birds in the Metropolitan Area (Comstock Book)
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ASIN: 1551051745

Book Description

This attractive guide identifies the birds most likely to be seen in the backyards, streets and parks of New York. The book introduces the fascinating and popular pastime of birdwatching and include advice on building feeders and birdhouses. Color illustrations help you identify birds quickly while the text provides interesting information about each bird. These books are easy-to-use references for the urban birdwatcher.

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Classical allusions
contintment is virtue
Hey yourself!
Great book for teaching values!
This book is fun to read!!

Hey, Al
Arthur Yorinks
Manufacturer: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0374429855

Amazon.com

The plot of this book, for 4-year-olds and up, involves the travails of Al, a janitor who lives in a dingy apartment on Manhattan's West Side with his dog Eddie. One day, a funny-looking bird sticks its huge head through Al's bathroom window and proposes a journey to a terrific place where there are "no worries" and "no cares." Al agrees and takes Eddie with him. What the two experience is paradise--butterflies, wildflowers, chirping birds and cool streams--but it soon gives way to the uncertainties of being away from home, and a moral: that home is where the heart is. This sharp, wry and tender story, which won the 1987 Caldecott Medal, marks Yorinks' and Egielski's fourth highly praised collaborative work.

Book Description

Al, a janitor, and his faithful dog, Eddie, live in a single room on the West Side. They eat together, they work together, they do everything together. So what's the problem?

Thier room is crowded and cramped; their life is an endless struggle. Al and Eddie are practically at eachothers throats when a large and mysterious bird offers them a new life in paradise. After some debate, they decide to accept.

Transported to a gorgeous island in the sky, Al and Eddie are soon living a life of ease and luxury. But they come to find that the grass can be a little too green on the other side. After a dramatic, nearly tragic escape from their paradise prison, both man and dog agree: there really is no place like home.

Customer Reviews:

Classical allusions.......2006-03-06

We read this after having read Homer's Odyssey together. Yorinks draws from it heavily, referencing the Lotus Eaters as well as other tales. My daughter also felt there was a connection to the Garden of Eden story.

This is also a good follow-up to a visit to the zoo or an aviary. DD wanted to identify all of the different bird species depicted in the illustrations.

contintment is virtue.......2006-02-07

There is a good lesson for young and old alike to be found in this story, "the grass is always greener on the other side". I really enjoyed this book I thought the author was very in tune to the audience in which he was writing to. This was ilistrated in the vivid color and the cheractors he chose as well to tell his story. When Al's dog is tired of their drab life he convinces Al to make a change, and for a while it seemed to be paradise, accept the longer they stayed there the more they found themselves changeing into something they didn't want to be.

Hey yourself!.......2004-07-27

I was eight years old when this book came out in 1986. Before I even knew that this book existed I used to play a great game with my fellow kidlets. Everyone got onto the bed and someone below the bed was a huge alligator named Al. The goal was to stick your head over the side of the bed and yell, "Hey, Al!", and avoid getting grabbed. When I saw the book, "Hey, Al", I was disappointed to find that there weren't any alligators involved. The similarities to my favorite game were limited, but there was one thing that was the same. That heart stopping feeling you got when you stuck your head over the side, not knowing what you'd find or when you'd get grabbed... that's the feeling you get after reading, "Hey, Al".

Al's just your normal janitor living with his dog in a one room apartment in New York. As the book says, he's, "a nice man, a quiet man, a janitor". Eddie, Al's dog and partner, is fed up with their life at the moment but there isn't much the two can do about it. One day, while Al's shaving in the bathroom, a huge blue bird sticks its head in the window. The bird promises that if Al merely comes with him he'll find a place without any worries and cares. The next day, Al and Eddie wait patiently in the bathroom and the bird arrives to fly them up up up to an island in the sky. Once there the two eat and drink and swim and sunbathe all day. It's a little paradise. But this world starts to go terribly terribly wrong when Al wakes up one day to find that both he and Eddie are turning into birds. Suddenly the honeymoon is over and the two friends must fly for their lives back to their little apartment in New York to return to normal. In the end, the two friends are a little wiser and a little happier with their lot.

Author Arthur Yorinks and illustrator Richard Egielski were great fans of the weird dream-like picture book. I don't know if you're at all familiar with their similarly peculiar and far more odd "Louis the Fish", but "Hey, Al" is written (and drawn) in very much the same vein. I was slightly disturbed by "Hey, Al" when I read it as a kid and that feeling has persisted in the eighteen years since I last looked at it. I think illustrator Egielski gives a nod to the otherworldly island paradise Al and Eddie end up in when he draws into his scene of birds welcoming the visitors a dodo with human hands and a walking stick (much as you would find in the original Tenniel drawing of "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland"). Somehow the combination of bright colors and an ever so slightly off narrative gives the book that otherworldly quality that made it so unique when it was first published. The range of birds available on the island (everything from ostriches and pink flamingos to penguins and puffins) help as well.

Kids will love speculating whether or not the other birds on the sunny isle were once human too. What is clear in the end, however, is the small still moral that staying true to one's self is better than all the riches in the world. The final line in the book is the undeniable statement, "Paradise lost is sometimes Heaven found". A little light philosophy for a toddler's growing mind.

Great book for teaching values!.......2004-03-18

"Paradise lost is sometimes heaven found" is the closing line in Hey, Al, a wonderful book that has a timeless moral for both kids and adults. Al is a janitor who is not happy with how is life is going. He lives in a room with his dog, Eddie, who is also not happy with his situation. One day a bird appears at the window promising to bring them to a better place, "no worries, no cares". Of course, something that sounds that good probably isn't.

This book is definitely an entertaining story. The pictures are colorful and very detailed. Kids will love looking at them and pointing out all the different birds and laugh at the silly transformation that Al and Eddie go through. I think they will also get the story, that what you have is usually better than what you lust for. Everyone, at some point in their life, dreams about something better. This book is a great reality check for us, giving a serious message in a kid's book.

This book is fun to read!!.......2003-06-06

Hey, Al, by Arthur Yorinks and Richard Egielski, is a story about Al and Eddie, the dog, going to paradise.
Al, a nice, quiet, janitor, lived in a small but very neat apartment on the West Side of New York City with his faithful dog, Eddie. They were always struggling. Eddie hoped for a house with a backyard.
All that changed one morning when Al was startled by a huge bird said, "tommorow I will bring you to paradise." The bird offers Al and Eddie a change. The next morning, both are ready and waiting in the bathroom.the bird carries them to the paradise.
The theme of this story is that "your own home is the best place to be." Al and Eddie were much happier in their own house than in the paradise. Everyone will like this book, because it has beautiful pictures and ideas.

Average customer rating:

City Hawk: The Story of Pale Male

Manufacturer: Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 141693359X

Book Description

There's a hawk in the city!

New York City is known for its sky-scrapers, subways, and hustle and bustle -- not for its wildlife. So everyone is surprised when a red-tailed hawk is spotted flying over Fifth Avenue, and even more surprised when he decides to settle down on the ledge of one of the Big Apple's swankiest apartment buildings.

The hawk soon draws many admirers. They name him Pale Male and watch as he builds his nest, finds a mate, and teaches his little hawk babies to fly.

Based on the true story of Pale Male, City Hawk brings New York City's favorite hawk to life in a story of family, perseverance, and big-city living.

Book Description

New York City Birds, An Introduction to Familiar Species in the Metropolitan Area, is a must-have, reference guide for beginners and experts alike. Whether you're on a nature hike or in your own backyard, you'll want to take along a copy of this indispensable guide. The Pocket Naturalist series is an introduction to common plants and animals and natural phenomena. Each pocket-sized, folding guide highlights up to 150 species and most feature a map highlighting prominent sanctuaries and outstanding natural attractions. Each is laminated for durability.

Customer Reviews:

This is NOT a book!.......2006-04-22

I ordered this item to be able to reference the different types of birds throughout Manhattan and NYC. When I received this item I was quite surprised to find it was flat, just like a folded map. I guess I should have paid more attention to the description being a "fold out guide" and not a book, but it still really took me by surprise. Previously I had ordered a similar product on all the different NYC trees and I received an actual pocket book with many pages. I thought this would be something similar but it's really nothing more than a fold-out guide with pictures and extremely limited descriptions of the different types of birds you can find in the city.

When completely unfolded it measures 22" long by 8.25" high. In all honesty, this is something that could have been downloaded off the internet (save for the fact that it is laminated) and $6 seems a bit pricey for the actual product. This guide is okay if you just want to try to visually match up a particular bird you have seen, but other than that it really doesn't offer too much information.

Serendipitous Outings Near New York City: On Foot in New Jersey, Long Island, the Hudson Valley, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania

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Taken the scare out of visiting New York City

Serendipitous Outings Near New York City: On Foot in New Jersey, Long Island, the Hudson Valley, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania
Marina Harrison , and Lucy D. Rosenfeld
Manufacturer: Globe Pequot
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Tourist Destinations & Museums | Reference & Tips | Travel | Subjects | Books

General | Travel | Subjects | Books

Book Description

For the discriminating walker with a taste for the unusual, Serendipitous Outings near New York City includes strolls in New Jersey, Long Island, the Hudson River Valley, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania as well as a special section for birders. These walks meander through woodland gorges; among wildflowers; into deserted villages; along lakes, rivers, and the ocean; and to a historic cemetery.

Selected outings are for those with specific interests: There are mushroom forays, walks among fragrant herbs (especially, but not only, for the blind and handicapped), total fitness trails, vineyard and apple-picking walks, and a walk amid an amazing sculpturescape. Each entry includes the authors' recommended time for a visit (it's not always spring!), directions, and ideas of other outings in the area. All walks are within the abilities of the average family, and some are easier.

For walkers of every description--from experienced hikers to leisure-time strollers--this book is the perfect guide to outdoor adventures close to the City.

Customer Reviews:

Taken the scare out of visiting New York City.......2006-08-10

Reviewed by Irene Watson for Reader Views (7/06)

Anticipating a trip to the New York City and area, this book certainly has taken the scare out of visiting an incredibly large city. "Serendipitous Outings Near New York City" simplifies the trip and gives the reader an opportunity to visit New York City with ease.

Harrison and Rosenfeld intended this book for all walkers - experienced trail hikers, antique hunters, nature lovers, as well as slow walkers that just love to browse and enjoy conversations with those they meet. The book starts off with the "Deserted" Village in the Allaire State Park of New Jersey. The authors give a brief history, description and when the village is open. They explain that guided tours are available if one so desires, but they also encourage self-guided tours. After the walk, they suggest a trek to the Atlantic Ocean where another small town exists.

This is only one of the many walking trips that the authors suggest. They include an easy to follow map and there is no doubt they have trekked the streets and areas themselves. They say things like "Before leaving Stonecrop, be sure to walk on a small path through the woodland garden: Azaleas, rhododendrons, and other shade-loving plants have been carefully placed to blend harmoniously with this natural habitat. Nearby is a pond surrounded by lilies and groupings of..." How enticing is that! With descriptions like this, one can't help but wander on the path.

I'm looking forward to using this book on my trip to the area. At first I wasn't anticipating visiting some of the areas which include New Jersey, Long Island, the Hudson Valley, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania. However, after perusing this book, the travel plans will have to include these areas.

New York City at the Millennium: A Thousand Years of Change--Satellite Imagery, Bird's-Eye Views, Historical Topography, 2000 ... 1000

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New York City at the Millennium: A Thousand Years of Change--Satellite Imagery, Bird's-Eye Views, Historical Topography, 2000 ... 1000
Inc Hedberg Maps
Manufacturer: White Star Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Map

Maps | Atlases & Maps | Reference | Subjects | Books

All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
ASIN: 188550862X

Book Description

Using historic and modern maps and photographs, historic Bird's Eye Views and aerial satellite images, this remarkable piece vividly displays the changes in New York City from the time before European settlement of the Americas up to the year 2000. Images include a Bird's Eye view from 1865, a 1994 oblique aerial image, an 1895 cartoon mapping the City's reformation and a 1921 photo of the Brooklyn Bridge. A Satellite image from 1999 is contrasted with an artistic impression showing the landforms in 1000 AD. A modern map of the city center is provided for context. The text describes the changes in the City's shape and character over time, including changes made to the landforms, with a graph showing population growth since 1790.Other text explains the changes in mapping technology over the years. A time scale highlights significant events in the world and the region. Beautiful and informative.

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Great Children's Book

Howard
James Stevenson
Manufacturer: William Morrow & Co Library
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Library Binding

General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Customer Reviews:

Great Children's Book.......2003-10-24

Great story of a duck who forgot to fly south for the winter. I remember as a child, checking this book out from the library over and over and over, and now, I read it to my children over and over

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