Just because you can't fly doesn't make you a baby, Baby Bird's First Nest

My library has a section for award winning book. This book appeared in Building Block Award section for the 2000/2001 year, which is presented annually to the author and illustrator of the picture book voted most popular by preschool children in Missouri's public libraries and began in 1996. I thought it was a pretty cute book after reading it myself.

Baby Bird's First Nest is by Frank Asch, who has also created Good Night Baby Bear and Bear Shadow. It is about Baby Bird who has fallen out of her nest in the middle of the night from rolling over. And as she peeps from the ground for her mother, she is unheard as her mother is still fast asleep.

But who does hear her, is Little Frog, who suggests that since Baby Bird can't fly back to her nest she make her own. They work together to make a nest of twigs and pine needles and grass. When it is done the frog finds it a little itchy, but Baby Bird is quite pleased with her first nest. While they are enjoying the nest though they hear an animal, Raccoon, who is quite hungry. Little Frog jumps in the water and Baby Bird hops up onto a low branch that is just out of reach of Raccoon.

After Raccoon has left, Little Frog sees Baby Bird on the branch and tells her that if she keeps jumping to the next higher branch she will be able to get back up to her mother. So they hop together back up to the nest and Mama Bird is surprised to see Baby Bird out of the nest, but swoops her up back into the nest and falls back asleep hoping to hear about the adventure in the morning. Baby Bird says bye to her new friend as he dives back into the pond.

It is a cute story about courage and perseverance and the benefit of friendships. I liked the simplicity of the actions and the logical thoughts of Little Frog. And it had a cute ending.

The illustrations in this book are good. I wouldn't call them excellent, but they complement the text well and are easy to understand. The colors are mostly primary with lines creating borders around everything. Grass has green borders, clouds have a blue one and the sun has a white one. The birds are pink with brighter pink chests. And Little Frog and Baby Bird look quite cheerful and friendly in the illustrations. The only one that can be a little scary is one where you see Raccoon's face and in his eyes is the image of Baby Bird. It might make young children afraid.

The text on each page is anywhere from 2 to 8 lines with the vocabulary aimed towards children ages 4 to 8. Here is a sample page:

"The morning is a long way off," replied Baby Bird.
"What shall I do till then?"
"Why not build your own nest?" asked Little Frog.
"I've never built a nest before," sighed Baby Bird.
"Neither have I," said Little Frog. "But I'd be glad to help you."

You can see from this interaction that the dialog is simple but makes sense and helps carry the story.

Overall I enjoyed this book. I thought the story was fun and it was silly how Mama Bird was just upset Baby Bird was outside the nest, but she didn't even know the half of it! It made me smile and I am sure it will make children smile as well. As it is a story about night time and ultimately Baby Bird goes back to sleep in her mother's nest this book could be appropriate for bedtime, along with any other time. I recommend this book for children ages 4-8, although a 3 year old could enjoy this as well with the big bright illustrations and lively story.