A Kettle of Hawks: And Other Wildlife Groups

From School Library Journal Grade 3-5-- Poetry, art, and instructive narrative combine to create a beautiful nature book through which readers are encouraged to be observant of animal behavior and appreciative of nature's wonders. The animal groups include the familiar colony of ants and swarm of bees as well as the lesser known kettle of hawks and cloud of tadpoles. Each group is introduced by a free verse reminiscent of haiku that nestles within a double-page watercolor illustration. An informative page of text about the behavior of the species with an accompanying full-page illustration follows. Illustrations in soft hues create a serene background that provides harmony throughout the book. First published in 1979 with black-and-white illustrations, the book retains the same basic format and poems, but a few changes have been made in the text. The use of color makes this a much more appealing book for children, and it is more successful in developing an appreciation of the beauty of our natural world. A lovely, informative book for young nature lovers, for students studying animal behavior and habitats, and for teachers using a whole-language approach to learning. --Diane Nunn, Richard E. Byrd Elementary School, Glen Rock, NJCopyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.