Birds Make Nests

K-Gr 2--From backyard treetops to the African savanna, and whether adorned with a discarded snakeskin or tucked into a discarded shoe, nests keep eggs and chicks safe. Colorful, earthy woodcuts illustrate the homes where birds raise their families. One spread displays a multitude of birds in different nests, including a house sparrow in a traffic light and white storks atop a utility pole. Bright pink American flamingos flame across another spread, tending eggs in their mudflat habitat. Children watch robins outside a window feed their chicks. Young wood ducks ready to fly jump down from their tree nest and follow their mother to the water. The colorful illustrations and lyrical, spare language highlight not only the variety of avian habitats in the world but also the life cycle of birds. VERDICT Equally at home on picture book and nonfiction shelves, this is a lovely and informative selection on different bird species and their nests.--Frances E. Millhouser, formerly at Fairfax County Public Library, VA