Look Up!: Bird-Watching in Your Own Backyard by Annette LeBlanc Cate

Look Up!: Bird-Watching in Your Own Backyard Reviews

• 
  KC

  A thorough guide to birding for children. It's chock full of information and has great pictures with bubble comments.
• 
  Krista the Krazy Kataloguer

  I really didn't expect this book to grab me the way it did. I wish I'd had Look Up! when I first started watching birds as a kid. Cate's text and detailed illustrations fill every page from edge to edge, even the endpapers, and provide practical tips on how to watch birds and what to observe. I can tell that this was a work of love for this author. She really knows her birds! I learned a few things myself about a few species I've seen. Her touches of humor in the birds and their conversations make some of the information easier to remember. Both the characters and the birds talk like kids would talk today, without being overly slangy. (The only place where I didn't care for the modern voice was on page 48. I can't imagine Linnaeus ever saying "dudes.") This is the PERFECT book to give budding birdwatchers. Highly recommended, and well deserving of the Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award (honor book).
• 
  Romelle

  Creative nonfiction. A book on how to bird watch. After reading this book, I will never look at a bird the same again. Annette LeBlanc Cate helps us be more observant in the way we look at birds- their color, shape, habitat, features, sounds, etc.
  
  The illustrations add some comic relief to the topic with birds talking to each other, birds cracking jokes, and birds conversing with the narrator in speech bubbles. The fashion show performed by the birds was particularly funny.
  
  I did find the entire book a bit overwhelming and the illustrated birds distracting. I felt there were too many things going on on each page. It may have been overkill. The book is divided into chapters, but it still seemed a bit choppy in content. Nevertheless, I admired LeBlanc Cate's effort at bringing life and humor to the topic of bird-watching to inspire readers to appreciate life around them.
• 
  Holly Mueller

  I LOVED this book! I am a bird geek, and I spent many hours as a child drawing birds (why did I stop?) and raising chickens and ducks. I still love watching birds come to the feeders, especially on a snowy day like today. This book reminded me about why I love them so much! It's a very "busy" book - lots of information, drawing tips, even comics and humor. It wouldn't necessarily make a good read aloud (at least not the WHOLE thing - maybe a little at a time projected on a screen), but I can see my students pouring over it again and again. I'm definitely purchasing it for my classroom, and maybe it will inspire me to get my colored pencils out again.
• 
  Jim Erekson

  Cate's birding book breaks one of the cardinal rules (sorry I couldn't resist) of informational books: Anthropomorphism. But in this case, she is right and the rule is wrong. That's the thing with trying to come up with tight criteria for selecting informational books. When we focus too tightly on one kind of presentation, we get myopic. This book is not intended to be a scientist's science presentation. It's about being an everyday person getting into birding, and the talking birds are appropriate. The purpose of the book guides the criteria.
  
  I enjoyed Cate's sassy cartoon birds. It's not exactly the same, but the style and tone reminded me of Jared Lee's "Bummers" cartoons from Scholastic's 1974-1992
  Dynamite Magazine. The intent is not to make kids think animals have human thoughts and emotions, it's intended to add some jokes to the really basic information on birding.
  
  The best aspect of this book is its depth in both content and graphic formats. It really is a comprehensive guide to amateur birding. The wheel diagram for shades of brown, the rainbow diagram for spectrum of colors of birds, the bubble diagram for taxonomy--it was a brilliant array of appropriate variety in graphic organizers. Several different kinds of comic strips are used throughout, and a large two-page 'fashion runway' was an ingenious way to show off the differences in sparrows. Cate attacks the 'boringness' of the content head-on, and challenges readers to just start looking and drawing.
  
  It was a tough book to read in one sitting, and I imagine it being best read over some time--a week or two to look closely at each few pages. Cate promotes a field guide over her book for actually getting out observing and differentiating birds. It reminded me of our days in Gunnison, when we kept
  A Field Guide to Western Birds next to the kitchen window that looked out onto our lilacs. We saw dozens of different kinds of birds there every spring and summer, and we'd put a date next to each bird when we saw it. I haven't been able to find that guide book since we moved down from the mountains six years ago...
• 
  Tammy J

  I love this book it's all about birds and how they think people are watching them. It offers readers a humorous view point of the birds in this comedic picture book. It has alot of words so I would use this for upper elementary or early middle school possibly 4-6. The author really grabs the readers attention right off the bat. She leads the reader in with the tantalizing titles and explains the reasoning behind her actions. It would be a great book do discuss stating a claim and viewpoints. It gives the reader many facts on bird watching such as they are the easiest to see of all wild creatures. Within this book there are two points of view one from the birdwatcher and one from a kid. He is almost like a debbie downer in that he sees everything as boring. The author allows all types of people to see that they can capture the essence of bird watching.
  
  In the section a rainbow of color, the author gives you many birds that are all colors of the rainbow and their names. Although the names are difficult you could still do a matching activity with this. Or have children research their favorite birds and give the reasons why they like the bird. Tie art into this as well and have children create scenes where they would see birds. Compare their scene to this manual. Think of how you might draw a bird? Does it describe it in the book. You might have children go out and bird watch and write observations to tie in the science aspect and writing. So many things can be done because the book is action packed with information. Vocabulary is strong in this book words such as: Habitat, range, migration and so on would be good words to go over and explore. Showing children how to use context clues would be a great lesson. Along with Geography, music, research and so many other possibilities.
  
  You would have to be a pretty good reader in order to capture everything in this book. It is a bit of a different text structure so teaching this prior would be beneficial. You could use it in reading groups and do small chunks at a time since there are many chapters. Look up! offers themes such as being yourself, doing what you love, discovery, friendship. The entire book is filled from the front cover to the back with loads and loads of information. What are things that you love to do that others see as silly. Follow your dream and what makes you happy. You never know what you will discover.
• 
  Samantha

  A great introduction to bird watching for kids. This book is jam-packed with information about observing the birds in your geographical area. The writing style is conversational which really works for a book like this because it recognizes that bird-watching doesn't sound nearly as cool as it turns out to be.
  
  The author uses knowledge and enthusiasm to prove that bird-watching is a worthwhile hobby and uses each two page spread to build on the information included on the previous pages. That means that readers can begin bird-watching after having just read a few pages and can consult this book as a guide when putting the skills they learn from it into practice.
  
  A wide range of topics are covered: color, shape, behavior, feathers, noises, field guides, habitat etc. Ink and watercolor illustrations are detailed and encourage readers to draw the birds they observe.
  
  Overall, a great nature read with a bibliography.
• 
  Beverly

  While I do think this is an excellent introduction to children who want to start birdwatching, the format was very busy, with lots of word balloons and small print everywhere. I found that a little bit distracting, but the information was fascinating and useful. Among the many things that the author covers is: all the items one needs for successful birdwatching; where to go look for birds; observing the color of birds, their shapes, their beaks, their behaviors, and their songs; and suggestions for books and a website for further information. She also covers bird ranges, migration, and classification of birds. This will be a very good starting place for young bird watchers.
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  Anna Smith

  Bird watching can be fun! This book is written in a way that students would want to try bird watching. It tell the different types of birds and there different characteristics from a young boys perspective. He doesn’t need any fancy gadgets to identify his birds either!
  Grade: 3rd-5th
  Classroom Use: Science
  Individual Student: A student wanting a hobby or to be outdoors, someone interested in birds.
  Small group: Discuss different types of birds
  Whole Group: Vocabulary usage
  Related books: Books on Bird watching
  Multimedia: Recorded version
  
• 
  Janis

  My new favorite children’s book is Look Up! This delightful, informative, inspiring introduction to bird-watching (for kids 8 and up, with plenty to offer for novice adults) offers the basics of bird-watching, from characteristics and behavior, shapes, flying patterns, songs, habitat, and even a nice introduction to classification. I loved its conversational cartoon approach and quirky humor. A wonderful book!
• 
  Alyson (Kid Lit Frenzy)

  Finally found this one. Love the layers and the humor along with the informational side.
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  Barb Bailey

  This book is awesome.....love it ! I am recommending this book to my daugther...it will be a great birthday gift idea for her step son, especially paired with a set of binoculars .
• 
  Etty Krieger

  This book has a playful and efficient strategy of exploring the bird universe. Recommended to children at ages 7-12, it uses creative ways to demonstrate how birds are varied: physically, in behavior, habitat, sounds, and development and lifelong adaptations. In a dialogue form, featuring fictional characters, (including the book` stars – the birds), the book approaches funny and interactive ways of conveying its content to children and even adults interested in learning more about birds. Throughout the book, the author wants to motivate the reader to produce notes and drawings made from bird daily observations, and anywhere, because everywhere there are birds that can be observed in their rich details. Often people do not realize how many details a bird can have: whether it is female or male, how it reproduces, if it changes color throughout its life or seasons, if it sings and how it sings, what it eats. And all this knowledge deriving from curiosity makes the reader able to better identify the world of birds around her/him with accuracy and enjoyable situations.
  This book is an excellent resource when becomes to teach Science, because some units of school textbooks in Texas elementary schools explore animals in Science books, from Kindergarten to 5th grade. This book would be a creative resource in order to engage students to learn more detailed content about birds within the major subject and under the TEKS requirements. This book also has large opportunities to apply and diversify assessments, allowing the students to work on the subject based on many levels and strategies.
  This book uses visual content accurately to explore the subject, the illustration is rich in details and specifications, making the comprehension easier. That means, also, that the student would identify the birds wherever his/her is and to apply the subject learned in real life. The book motivates the student to keep a sketchbook and other materials to observe birds around him/her. The visual amount of content also indicates great opportunities for English learners and/or struggling learners because they would faster identify features and situations connected to their personal/real lives, surroundings and backgrounds, working on connections to better comprehend the content. Also the “funny” dialogues between birds and characters facilitate interaction and dialogue also in the classroom.
  The major idea is based on how easily would the reader interact to the nature to identify birds in their habits, details that are not visually and aurally observed by most of people. It’s not necessary a binocular instrument to do that in the beginning. Some daily materials would be a great instrument to help the reader to identify and classify birds. Keeping a sketchbook to draw and catalogue observed birds would be fantastic to determine their features and to clearly help the reader to become a good bird observer.
  
  
• 
  Rana Issa

  Look Up!: Bird-Watching in Your Own Backyard
  This book won the Robert F. Sibert Informational book medal. The book is a unique informational text because it is written in a format that is entertaining yet very informative. It offers the basics of bird-watching from anatomy, characteristics, colors, habitats and behavioral differences. It helps readers recognize and classify the different types of birds that they see in their own backyard! Each illustration in the book provides valuable information about birds, including all the humorous and colorful visuals. It also lists and explains all the materials needed for bird-watching and the Do’s and Don'ts during bird watching. It provides a real example of how a bird sketch looks like.
  I love the fun and humorous dialogue bubbles in the book. It is valuable information translated in a way that gives the needed amount of information and still keeps the reader entertained. Towards the end of the book, there is a guide for the different types of bird species that you might encounter classified according to physical characteristics. I also love how the book can teach students to appreciate nature and animals.
  The information in this book is applicable and tangible. Students can experience what they read first hand because birds are something that most kids see on a regular basis. Also, the text can be tied into a science unit because it provides information on the anatomy of birds and it requires students to learn how to become good observers.
  The book can be a shared read in the classroom for upper elementary (4th and 5th) since it is an informational text and includes many new terms and ideas students weren’t previously exposed to. Also, the many dialogue bubbles that are in the book can be useful in implementing a “reader’s theater”, where students can take a turn to read what the birds say with expression. The teacher can assign the students to certain dialogues on certain pages. In addition, the information in the book can be extended to a science lesson because students can actually practice bird-watching in the playground and sketch what they see. They can later have a conversation on how human activities affect birds and their habitats.
  
• 
  Jennifer Sommer

  I ran into this book while doing some research on birds and was captivated to the point that I when I returned it to the library, I told the Children's librarian what a great book it was and that she should take a look. Yes, I am a little partial to birds. But this was such an appealing book in every way that I checked it out again. It looks like a picture book, but the amount of information packed inside is incredible. From the inside cover to the back inside cover, every square inch is stuffed with conversational text insuring the reader that he can be a terrific bird-watcher. Along with that are the hundreds of bird captions also talking to the reader. The table of contents gives clues to the many ways to distinguish birds from each other - shapes, colors, sounds - as well as where to find birds and how to observe birds. It includes a bibliography and index at the back. The illustrations are accurate and amusing, and kids will pore over every detail on every page to make sure they have read what every bird has had to say. Lots of bird expressions abound! Not only is it fun, but it's educational, as my husband always says. Highly recommended, even for non bird fanatics, in grades 2-5.
• 
  Hannah Barnes

  Summary: Look Up: Bird Watching in Your Own Backyard is a book full of descriptors about birds and nature and how to observe these different types of bird regardless of where you live. It displays colorful illustrations of all birds and which ones can be found in your area and how you can recognize them based on their shapes, colors, habits, and songs. The book also explains how a person could simply take a seat and sketch a bird while bird watching.
  
  Evaluation: It is easy for everyone to enjoy nature, regardless of where they live. We should learn to appreciate our surrounding and the beauty it supplies us with on a day to day basis. There are always places to observe nature, more specifically birds, and learn about their habitats and daily habits.
  
  Teaching Ideas: This book would be a great book to use within a science lesson to get students thinking about the nature that surrounds their home/school. This could tie into a similarities and differences lesson as everyone could go home and observe the nature around their home. Then the students could compare what each student in the classroom could record based on where they lived.
  
• 
  Asho

  S (age 6) got a pair of cheap binoculars from our neighbor, along with a tiny field guide that describes half a dozen birds to find in your backyard. He has showed a bit of interest in bird-watching and has been sitting on our deck some mornings watching the birds that come to the feeder. His budding interest in bird-watching happened to coincide with my reading a recommendation for this book on a blog, so I checked it out from the library for him.
  What a cool book! It has illustrations that are appealing for children and birds that provide comic relief throughout the book in their little chat bubbles. But in addition to that, it has a ton of very useful information about birds and can definitely serve as a beginner field guide.
  I think the best thing I can say about this book is that prior to reading it my interest in bird-watching was just about zero, but this book has made it seem so appealing that I'm now wondering why in the world I've never been interested in birds before. As Cate points out, they are by far the easiest wild animals to see around your neighborhood. I can't believe in my entire life I never thought about birds that way!
• 
  Octavia Cade

  This is really charming! It's a rather advanced picture book for kids, sort of an introduction to bird watching. It's not a field guide or anything like that - more a "this is how you get started, and this is what to look for." I got it from my local library here in New Zealand, and though the birds that Cate all refers to are American (because she's talking about the birds where she lives) that really doesn't matter. When she's talking about how water birds have different feet to birds of prey, for instance, a reader can apply the observations to the birds around them. It's chatty and informal and has lots of commentary from the birds themselves, which gives it a nice sense of humour.
  
  It'd be a great book for kids who are looking to take up bird watching and don't really know how to start. The author makes it clear they need no fancy equipment and they can start in their own back garden, or with birds they see in various places in their local neighbourhood. She clearly wants to make birding accessible to all, which I appreciate. Kids who develop a love of nature will make sure to look after it, after all...
• 
  Kim

  Could be useful for a MS science class if they do wildlife observation stuff. Has a nice explanation of classification, including visuals that could help students with the concept. Encourages drawing the observed animals, which I seem to remember being a feature of my 8th grade science class at DS?? Has a good discussion of evolutionary adaptations like specific bills/feet -- encourages readers to think critically about what they observe about the birds and how those observed traits could be useful to the survival of the species, thereby encouraging scientific inquiry. Probably most appropriate for 6th and 7th graders, but a fun read even for me because of the humor and enthusiasm strung throughout! :)
• 
  Tina

  This book is about a girl named Cate who teaches the readers all about bird watching. The book gives a ton of information about observing birds. It goes through observing birds in different geographical regions. The book describes how birds are different, including: habitat, behavior, physical aspects, and adaptations. The author emphasizes that readers are able to make observations and draw pictures of books wherever they are. The book has many illustrations.
  
  This book would be an awesome resource for students to have. It is jam packed with information for students to learn about birds. I can see this book being used in a fourth or fifth grade class for an animal unit. The students would be able to learn so much from the book. The students would be very engaged in this book because of the structure and the illustrations.
  
  I found this book on the Sibert Award book list. This is the link that I found the book on:
  https://alsc-awards-shelf.org/directo... I was able to check this book out at my local library. My school also has this book in the school's library. This book is available to be purchased online as well.
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  Sandy

  Author Annette Cate has a curious mind and a great sense of humor that sets this birding book apart. I found it in the juvenile section of the library, but Look Up! Bird-Watching in Your Own Backyard could be useful and inspirational for any beginning birder, young or old. It's like a comic book with the birds talking to the reader and to each other on every page - a lot of fun, and it's packed full of bird lore and birding tips. Some of what the birds say are "inside jokes" for those of us with more knowledge about birds and birding. An enjoyable read for an afternoon when you want to relax and laugh and learn a thing or two as well.
• 
  Lacey

  Obviously this book is about bird watching. The author encourages children to get outside to watch nature. Bringing a sketchbook to draw what you see doesn't hurt either. There are tons of things to learn about birds. Including there color, what their feathers look like, what they eat, or where you can find them.
  
  I enjoyed this book. It had lots of facts in it and described in detail the types of birds.
  
  I think I could use this book in the classroom to talk about nature. Even if you just gave a few facts about birds to the students. Or have the students go outside and take time to watch them find different birds.
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  Madeline Collins

  This book beautifully walks you through all the different types of birds. Its about how to have fun bird-watching in your own backyard! Such a fun book!!
  
  I liked this book, but not quite as much as others because it didn't have a story line. It is more of an informational book rather than a story. Still a very fun and colorful book for kiddos!
  
  This book would be good to have in a classroom, especially for students who love animals! I think kids would like this book also because of how fun and colorful it is!
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  Sandy Brehl

  This is a book for everyone... nature lovers, bird watchers, those who love to laugh, budding and established scientists, budding and established artists, picture book lovers, teachers, learners, and just plain curious folks. The speech bubbles, interactions, comic insertions, comparative arrays, clever bird quips and so much more reveal the lengthy and intense editorial and design work that went into making a timeless and irresistible book.
  
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  Mary

  This book was on my list of "not-boring learning books" according to my 6 year-old:
  http://honorsgradu.com/hunting-for-go...
  
  Already an avid birder (following after daddy’s footsteps), it wasn’t tough to get my daughter to love this one. But I was impressed at just how engaging and informative Annette LeBlanc Cate’s guide on bird watching was. And best of all, it resulted in my daughter creating her own birding field journal.
  
  
• 
  Mary Ann

  This funny, information-packed book combines watercolor cartoons and an astounding amount of information. Author-illustrator Cate confesses that while she isn’t an expert bird-watcher, she really loves birds. She encourages readers to sharpen their awareness of natural surroundings, identifying birds by their color, shape, behaviors, habitat and range. Amusing and rich with scientific information.