Summer vacation has finally rolled around to our house and the prospect of unstructured days is being met with absolute joy. I'm sure that for many families, extended time off from the day to day routine is perhaps a source of some consternation, but for us, it is bliss. This doesn't mean, however, that I don't feel the need to have a few tricks up my sleeve in the event that a restless summer afternoon arrives and the girl complains of needing something to do.
Enter the newest title on our bookshelf: Take a Backyard Bird Walk by Jane Kirkland. Part field guide, part nature journal and part manual for outdoor discovery, Take a Backyard Bird Walk is the perfect companion for summer mornings spent in the backyard or in a nearby park. Designed to be used and not just referenced, the book contains tips for finding and identifying birds, as well as places to draw pictures, make field notes and write down questions for future research. The book explains everything from field markings to bird nesting behavior in kid-friendly terms that focus on common birds that might easily be found in an average backyard setting.
One of the things that I find most enchanting about this interactive birding book is the way that it provides inspiration for budding birders just becoming interested in the the feathered friends sharing their environment. I love the idea of a book that is designed to help even very small children become careful and dedicated birdwatchers. Kids have such passion for their interests when encouraged the right way and the simple text, lovely pictures and clever layout of this book are perfectly suited to this task.
Take a Backyard Bird Walk is actually a part of a series of books called Take a Walk Books. You can check out the publishing company's website here and find additional titles on such awesome subjects as urban nature walks, beachcombing and wetland exploration. Welcome, summer!
----Annie
