A Round of Robins

Punchy poems that beg to be read aloud follow a pair of robins through parenthood. . . . Hesterman alternates solid vocabulary--'lair, ' 'clutch, ' 'slumber, ' 'fledgling'--with delightful made-up words. . . . Rhymes and rhythms are spot-on and will hold rapt both lap readers and storytime audiences, the onomatopoeia adding to the fun. . . . Ruzzier's pen-and-ink-and watercolor illustrations show cartoon robins with anthropomorphic poses and facial expressions in a habitat that seems a combination of Dr. Seuss and the scenery from Road Runner. An enjoyably rhythmic slice of robin life for young naturalists and bird-watchers.

With colorful, cartoon art and playful rhymes, these 16 poems present various stages of a robin's life. . . . Watercolor and pen-and-ink illustrations depict the expressive robins along with other birds, insects, and a rabbit, all in a sparse, vaguely Seussian landscape. Periodic sound-effect asides enliven the text. . . . The read-aloud friendly text and classroom-friendly subject matter make this a nice choice for a springtime story hour.

Factual and funny. . . . Hesterman's poems are brief and very easy to read, with little jokes but also using correct terminology. . . . Ruzzier's pen-and-ink and watercolor pictures build on the signature orange of a robin's breast, extending that color to tree limbs and hills; his robins feature correct bird anatomy but add ways of standing and angling their wings that are comically reminiscent of humans. Individual poems stand alone, but the book is also short and lively enough for a full read-through.

Hesterman debuts with 16 poems that lightheartedly chart the development of a family of robins: "Three is too few./ Mama adds more./ Now it's just right: / One clutch of four." Baby birds often look ungainly and weird--a perfect fit for Ruzzier's gently surreal brand of cartooning. His newborn robins have big eyes, rubbery limbs, and (eventually) a fuzzy carpet of feathers: "Changing, growing and it's showing.../ Now they're fluffs of plump perfection." The action unfolds against a backdrop of vaguely alien vegetation and watery skies of pink and blue; there are some tussles among the new siblings, but Hesterman focuses more on the birds' growth and increasing independence. It's a charmer of an animal family story, with rhymes that are a pleasure to read aloud. Ages 5-8. Author's agent: Rick Margolis, Rising Bear Literary. Illustrator's agent: Jennifer Laughran, Andrea Brown Literary. (Mar.)

Copyright 2018 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

PreS-Gr 1--Beginning with the first poem that proclaims (with some foreshadowing) "We'll raise a brood, and when we're done, /We just might hatch another one," 16 poems give readers a glimpse of stages in a robin's life, from mama robin laying four eggs to grown up birdies leaving the nest. Hesterman fills her jaunty rhyming verses with numerous puns and alliterations, while conjuring up sweet yet mostly factual vignettes of the birds' journey to maturity. Ruzzier's cartoon illustrations capture these scenes of avian domesticity with just the right mix of humor and warmth, hilariously expressive feathered protagonists (and their grumpy neighbors) inhabiting his slightly fantastical idiosyncratic flora, all colored in ethereal watercolor washes. VERDICT An utterly charming choice for most collections, perfect for one-on-one and small group sharing.--Yelena Alekseyeva-Popova, formerly at Chappaqua Library, NY

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.