Spring Catalog and Instruction Manual

My grandmother lived on the edge of Rose Canyon and took it upon herself to provide a safe haven for the wildlife that lived there too. Primarily that meant birds: mourning doves, house sparrows, house finches, and migrating birds. She had a twice daily ritual where she would put out food and water for the birds, including inside a self built aviary made from chain link fencing so that the little birds could eat in safety if the hawks and other raptors were circling.

Although bird diversity in her backyard wasn't very high and even though she knew all the species that visited by heart, she maintained a small library of birding reference books by the sliding glass doors. Of course these books had dozens of other types of birds from all over the area. To me these books seemed like catalogs of exotic, magical creatures.

It's that sense of wonder that Aviary Wonders Inc. Spring Catalog and Instruction Manual by Kate Samworth captures. Here is a build your own bird catalog. These are high end, luxury robotic pets for bird connoisseurs of the near future.

For children of the present, the book includes facts about birds and their variable anatomy: beaks, eyes, wings, bodies, feathers, tails, feet, etc.

The catalog is gorgeously illustrated with oil paintings that rival the color plates of my grandmother's old field guides. It's perfect for any budding birder or robot builder! ( )

A great work of biting satire, clever, original, and wonderfully designed and illustrated. ( )

This is a fascinating, disturbing not-just-for-children children's book. Imagine that birds no longer exist, and a person wants to construct a model bird. Here is a catalog of parts one could, hypothetically, purchase to do so. There is a great deal of information about avian anatomy--beaks, wings, feet adapted to particular environments. There are sobering details about extinct species. I can see the book's usefulness in science classrooms, and in discussing environmental issues. The illustrations are gorgeous, and the whole concept is off-the-wall clever. ( )

AVIARY WONDERS INC.: SPRING CATALOG AND INSTRUCTION MANUAL by Kate Samworth is a cleverly conceived and beautifully illustrated picture book you may have missed when it came out earlier in the year.

Set in a future where living birds no longer exist, readers of this fictional catalog can order parts and assemble their own birds. All of the birds in the book are actual species and many are identified as endangered or extinct.

It’s dark, but humorous approach isn’t intended for young children. Instead, it’s designed for sophisticated readers who appreciate the quirky premise and call for a different future.

Although readers will have fun thinking about how they might mix and match parts to build the perfect mechanical bird, it’s hoped that they’ll also reflect on the serious issue of bird and habitat conservation.

This 2014 Kirkus Prize winning picture book provides endless opportunities for library and classroom activities focusing on environmental conservation. It’s one of those rare picture books that people of all ages will enjoy. Use it to kickstart a middle grades environmental discussion or a high school biology project.

Work with the art teacher on a project that involves using the book to create mix and match birds. Display the result in the library!

To learn more about the author, go to http://katesamworth.com/. ( )