This book is for primary to intermediate aged students.
This book tells a story about a bird that builds a nest for her eggs through beautiful verses and illustrations.
This book is a simple yet powerful image of a bird who does all her can for her baby birds, and includes incredibly artistic and descriptive language that paints a picture in reader's minds. Good use for a poetry unit in the classroom.

Precise illustrations show the process of Carolina wrens building a nest, laying and incubating eggs, and leaving the nest. The text is poetic and informative; back matter includes a glossary and "wren facts."

See also: Bird Builds A Nest by Martin Jenkins and Richard Jones; "This is the House that Jack Built" (poem) ( )

Parrots, hummingbirds, and raptors may be more "exciting," but there's nothing quite like getting to know the simple birds in your backyard. House wrens are a common sight (and sound - they are VERY noisy!) in many yards and this is a sweet introduction to this snazzy little bird.

There is at least one other book of a nesting bird based on "The house that Jack built" but what sets this aside is the focus on a specific bird, a Carolina wren, and the natural, detailed description of their nesting life cycle.

Readers are introduced to the wrens as they build their nest, acquiring twigs, leaves, spiders, and a snakeskin. After the nest is a cozy, safe place, it is guarded by the male while the female lays her eggs. The hatchlings grow as they are fed, then at fourteen days fly from the nest. A curious possum, who has been watching the progress of the family, examines the empty nest in the moonlight.

Back matter includes a glossary defining words such as "nourish" and "rootling" and some facts about wrens and their nests. Anne Hunter is an experienced artist and her illustrations often have a detailed, natural look to them which makes her a good choice to pair with Sonenshine's carefully chosen words. Colored pencil and ink bring out the tiny bars and stripes on the wrens, the delicate lines of a flower, the scales of the snakeskin.

Verdict: A good choice for storytimes, this has an attractive rhythm and a bonus of other animals in the background for kids to identify as they listen to the story. This will also be a great choice for preschool and kindergarten classrooms and for budding naturalists.

ISBN: 9781536201536; Published March 2020 by Candlewick; Review copy provided by publisher; Donated to the library

great nature book, along with the rhyme ( )