Robins!: How They Grow Up

by Eileen Christelow (Author)

Robins!: How They Grow Up
Reading Level: 2nd − 3rd Grade

Robins are the most familiar and beloved of all birds, found throughout North America and celebrated as one of the first signs of spring. But there's a lot about them that most people don't know! In this visually stunning picture book that features comic-book panels combined with painterly illustrations, Eileen Christelow tells the story of two young robins' first year, and reveals plenty of little-known facts that are sure to captivate young naturalists. Narrated with humor and filled with kid-pleasing details, this fascinating account of how robins grow up includes an Author's Note, Glossary, More About Robins, and Sources.

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Hardcover
$17.99

Kirkus Reviews

...as infectious as the ubiquitous bird's own 'Cheerily-cheerily, cheerily-cheerup, cheerup!

Booklist

Starred Review
Fresh and inviting, here's the go-to book for children curious about robins.

Publishers Weekly

Addressing readers, two robin "teenagers" explain how they came to live in "your yard." Making good use of sequential panels to show the changing seasons, chicks' development, and passage of time, Christelow's (the Five Little Monkeys series) airy, sketchlike digital illustrations portray pivotal moments in the robins' lives, from leaving the nest to learning to fly and finding food. Cartoony versions of the robins in the margins offer quips and informative comments, but Christelow never sugarcoats the difficulties of being a small bird in a world of predators. A squirrel devours one of their siblings' eggs before it hatches, and a brother is later swept up by a hawk: "Mom and Dad chase the hawk, scolding and screaming, but he flies away, our brother dangling from his talons." A glossary and other details about robins conclude this insightful study of an unflashy but fascinating bird. Ages 6-9. (Feb.)

Copyright 2017 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes

USA TODAY says ★★★★ stars. "Stuffed with information, much of it fascinating and likely to be a surprise even to adult readers."

★ "Christelow's accurate illustrations are action filled and make excellent use of panels to depict multiple perspectives on bird poses and behavior, as well as moment-by-moment events..." —Horn Book, starred review

Praise for Vote!

★ "It's hard to imagine a more accessible introduction to voting. . . . Whimsical and creative . . . vote aye on this one." —Booklist, starred review

"Well-executed . . . accessible." —Publishers Weekly

"Colorful, comical illustrations . . . light, yet informative tone. . . . This accessible and appealing title deserves a place in all collections." —School Library Journal

"Brisk and engaging." —The Washington Post
Eileen Christelow
Eileen Christelow has written and illustrated numerous best-selling picture books, including ten popular stories about the Five Little Monkeys, Letters from a Desperate Dog, and Vote! She lives with her husband in Dummerston, Vermont, and you can learn more about her life and work on her website, www.christelow.com, and on www.fivelittlemonkeys.com.
Classification
Non-fiction
ISBN-13
9780544442894
Lexile Measure
650
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Clarion Books
Publication date
February 20, 2017
Series
-
BISAC categories
JNF003030 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Animals | Birds
JNF051000 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Science & Nature | General
Library of Congress categories
JUVENILE NONFICTION / Science & Nature / Gene
Robins
JUVENILE NONFICTION / Animals / Birds
Life cycle

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