Mama Built a Little Nest

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Mama Built a Little Nest
Author:
Series: Animal Stories, Birds
Genres: Juvenile Fiction, Picture Books, Rhyming & Verse
Tags: Ages 3-5, Ages 5-8
ASIN: 1442421169
ISBN: 1442421169

A delightful exploration of the incredibly variety of nests birds build for their babies, illustrated by a Caldecott Honoree.

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About the Book

A delightful exploration of the incredibly variety of nests birds build for their babies, illustrated by a Caldecott Honoree.

Mama built a little nest
inside a sturdy trunk.
She used her beak to tap-tap-tap
the perfect place to bunk.

There are so many different kinds of bird, and those birds build so many different kinds of nests to keep their babies cozy.

With playful, bouncy rhyme, Jennifer Ward explores nests large and small, silky and cottony, muddy and twiggy, and all the birds that call them home!

About the Author & Illustrator

Jennifer Ward has written numerous award-winning picture books, including Mama Built a Little Nest both illustrated by Steve Jenkins. A former elementary educator, Jennifer Ward is an experienced public speaker who travels the country, speaking in schools and at international and national writer and literacy conferences. She lives with her family in Edwardsville, Illinois. Visit her at JenniferWardBooks.com.

Steven Jenkins’s many celebrated children’s books and was the 2003 Caldecott Honor recipient. He lives in Boulder, Colorado. Visit him at SteveJenkinsBooks.com.

A Few Reviews:

“Ward uses catchy original rhymes to describe the variety of nests birds create. Each sweet stanza is complemented by a factual, engaging description of the nesting habits of each bird…. Jenkins’ accomplished collage illustrations…are characteristically naturalistic and accurate in detail. A good bet for the youngest bird-watchers.” (Kirkus Reviews, January 2014)

“Jenkins’s (Animals Upside Down) signature paper collages handsomely illustrate this inviting read about bird nest variety…. Families using this as a bedtime book will appreciate the snug ending: “You have a nest–your very own!/ A place to rest your head/ with pillows soft and cozy thoughts–/ your nest is called a bed!”” (Publishers Weekly, December 2013)

“Ward and Jenkins show the beautiful variety of bird nests found around the world. Each jaunty, lilting four-line poem describes a type of nest. . . . Jenkins’ gorgeous, remarkably realistic illustrations fill each spread and show the birds and nests in lively, species-specific detail. . . . Young bird-lovers will adore this cozy, illuminating look into avian habitats.” (Booklist, February 2014)

“A practically perfect science picture book. Ward features a different kind of bird’s nest on each spread, with a four-line rhyming verse suitable for reading aloud on the left-hand pages, and a few sentences offering more information, at a higher reading level, on the right. Jenkins’s colorful cut-paper collages, set against white backgrounds that emphasize their attention to detail, illuminate each of the birds’ creations…. Equally excellent for classroom or storytime, this harmonious blend of text and illustrations executes a simple concept beautifully, in a manner that allows readers of various ages to approach the book in different ways.” (School Library Journal, February 2014)

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