On the Wing
(Paws, Fins, Feathers, Claws)

Elliott (On the Farm; In the Wild) adds a celebration of birds to his collection of lighthearted animal poetry. The subjects range from familiar backyard neighbors to birds best from nature documentaries: the Andean condor, the puffin, and the bowerbird ("Nature's fussy,/ lovesick architect"). Some are described in rhyming verse, while others are captured in telegraphic, haikulike fragments. In "The Macaw," accompanied by newcomer Stadtlander's painting of the bird's wildly colored plumage, Elliott writes simply, "Who/ spilled/ the/ paint?" Stadtlander has the challenging job of following in the footsteps of Elliott's late collaborator Holly Meade (to whom Elliott dedicates this book). Stadtlander paints the birds with meticulous care, framing them against majestic, muted backgrounds whose overcast skies lend a somber feel. In one spread, the bent legs and swooping necks of courting Japanese cranes form an elegant frieze of classical dimensions. While the seriousness of the images is sometimes at cross-purposes with Elliott's humor, it's just right for the poet's more lyrical moments, as when a bald eagle "circles like a prayer,/ on the rising columns/ of the shining,/ sun-warmed air." Ages 3-7. Illustrator's agent: Anne Moore Armstrong, Bright Agency. (Sept.)

Copyright 2014 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

K-Gr 3--Poetry flutters across the pages of this lovely book. Each selection is a short, spot-on depiction of a different species of bird. While these are not lengthy verses describing the birds in great detail, each poem is witty and thoughtful and enlivens its subject. The detailed acrylic illustrations complement the poems beautifully, and every bird seems to come alive on the spacious spreads. They are shown in realistic habitats, often in graceful movements that echo their natural elegance. Many of the pieces have a rhythmic, chirping quality that make them perfect read-alouds. Bird lovers, poetry enthusiasts, and children looking for a fun read will flock to this stunning title.--Ellen Norton, White Oak Library District, Crest Hill, IL

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

In this carefully planned book, readers simultaneously learn key facts about a variety of birds, absorb different forms of poetry and revel in beautiful artwork. ... The gouache artwork perfectly matches the varying tones and forms of the poetry, which ranges from the humorous one-sentence poem for the macaw to literary accolades for the albatross to philosophizing about the Andean condor's dark secrets. ... The power of good poetry glides along through the final three pages, which note that the bald eagle doesn't know the term "bird of prey / though he circles like a prayer // on the rising columns / of the shining, / sun-warmed air." From the graceful cranes flying across its wraparound cover to the single feather on the title page to the soaring eagle at the end, this book astounds.
--Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

Sixteen poems about birds are set against sumptuous landscapes. The poems range from brief, pithy, and humorous to more lyrical and serious. Elliott dedicates the book to Holly Meade, late illustrator of the first three volumes; Stadtlander here brings her own vision, varying palettes and settings to great effect in her rich gouache paintings, mostly double-page spreads. Readers will savor this simple but memorable investigation into the global avian experience.
--Horn Book