Bird Show

In spirited rhymes, author-illustrator Stockdale introduces 18 birds from around the world, showcasing broad variations found across nature by describing the birds’ daily “fashion show.” Simple couplets boast bouncy metaphors that compare feathered looks to items of human clothing and accessories, relayed through the first-person perspective of each fowl: “I flaunt a full skirt/ of milky-white lace,” reads a spread featuring the Great Egret, followed by a page showing the Yellow-breasted Chat (“My apron is yellow”) and another featuring the Superb-Bird-of-Paradise (“my dress has a face”). Sharp, streamlined illustrations clearly depict each bird and its distinctive plumage alongside thick, colorful borders and spare prose in a book that will surely appeal to the littlest bird watchers—and fashion designers. Back matter includes a guide to each of the birds pictured, including their native habitats, as well as a seek-and-find for the birds’ patterns. Ages 2–6. [em](Mar.) [/em]