The Birdwatchers
November 18, 2008
A grandfather shares with his grandchild the quiet wonder of birdwatching - and a wry talent for telling a tall tale.
“When I go birdwatching, things happen,” Granddad tells little Jess. Sometimes, he says, while he’s drawing pictures of the birds, they draw
pictures of him. And sometimes they help him out by finding their own names in his bird book. “Birds are amazing,” says Granddad, but Jess isn’t so sure. So one day she goes birdwatching with Granddad to see for herself.
With expressive line-and-wash drawings, Simon James captures the leafy grandeur of the outdoors and the warm, special rapport between a child and a granddad, illustrating once again the huge happiness to be found in little things.
Customer Review: Toddler’s Favorite
I got this book for my older son who loves all sorts of animals. He quite enjoyed it but I was quite surprised when my little 18 month baby wanted to read it too. True, she loves birds. She loves to go down to the park close to our house and feed `duckies’. When there are birds in our backyard she’ll point through the back window at them, until I look, saying all the while, `bir, bir’. Just a couple of days ago she took the book out of our little-person’s book section, walked over to my wife, took the book that she was reading out of her hands and put “Birdwatchers” into her hands. She then crawled up the couch and sat herself down in my wife’s lap, waiting for her to start reading the story. My son liked the last page of the book, but my little girl will look on each page for any little birds that are there. It is quite a good book for any bird loving child’s library or adult too for that matter.
Customer Review: The Joys of Birdwatching…..
“My granddad is a birdwatcher. He tells me birdwatching stories. He always says, “Jess, when I go birdwatching, things happen…” And our little narrator is intrigued with his tales. Sometimes, he tells her that when he makes drawings of the birds, they make drawings of him. The birds often help him find their names in his bird book, and they got all together early one morning and recorded the “dawn chorus.” Granddad’s stories are so fun and amazing that finally little Jess has to find out for herself. So one morning she goes birdwatching with her grandfather….. Simon James’ gentle and engaging story is heartwarming, and complemented by playful and inviting illustrations is warm earthtones. Perfect for youngsters 4-8, The Birdwatchers is a captivating gem, with a humorous, surprise ending that you don’t want to miss. Remember, when you go birdwatching, things happen… Buy from here…
