Narrative text describes robins' migration and nesting habits, while a pair of young robins (you can tell by their speckles) chime in with speech bubbles. Comics panels effectively use sequential art (e.g. a nest being built, an egg hatching), and the layout of each page is dynamic and easy to follow. The story follows the baby birds' life through the first weeks and months, describing what they eat, the dangers they face, and how they learn to fly.

Realistic born-digital illustrations show robins at every stage (egg, baby, fledgling, adult) and their environments.

Back matter includes an author's note, glossary, "more about robins" in Q&A format, and sources. Well researched and beautifully presented; on the longer side, best for older readers (not toddlers). ( )

The very first time we read this book we knew it was a keeper. Two teenage Robins explain their life cycle in a straight forward conversational way. We loved learning all the nitty-gritty details of a Robin’s life. Be sure to read the author’s note in the back for a small chuckle. Caution: One baby robin is taken by a hawk. ( )

I've never really thought of Christelow as a nonfiction author, but her picture book expertise translates well to this narrative nonfiction title.

The first spread introduces a pair of teenage robins who are here to tell us their story. The story is told through panels of art, dialogue between the two immature robins (complete with speech bubbles), and paragraphs of text. It begins with the male robin's migration north, glosses lightly over mating, and jumps into nest-building and eggs. The robins' choice of a nesting spot on top of a hoe is taken from Christelow's own experience (explained later in the back matter). The robins guard and protect their eggs, although one is lost to a hungry squirrel, and later care for their hatchlings. The baby birds grow from hideous, featherless creatures (I am not one of those who likes baby birds. Ugh.) to fledglings ready to fly. Along the way, one of the three falls prey to a hungry hawk. The two remaining birds, teh ones telling the story, continue to explain their growth and development, learning to live with the flock, and beginning to care for themselves as their parents prepare to raise another family. The story ends as the robins migrate south with their flock for the first time.

Christelow writes an author's note about her experience with robins and encourages readers to observe their own backyards for wildlife and seasonal changes. The book also includes a glossary, more facts about robins, and a short list of sources.

It can sometimes be hard to find solid titles on "ordinary" animals. For my audience in Wisconsin, robins are a common bird that many kids are likely to see about in the spring and summer. This book is an excellent resource for encouraging kids to explore their local wildlife, learn simple facts about bird life cycles, and hone their observation skills. Although the text can be lengthy in parts, the illustration panels tell their own story that younger children can easily follow while older readers and classes will find much to explore.

Verdict: An excellent resource, not to be missed. Recommended.

ISBN: 9780544442894; Published 2017 by Clarion; Purchased for the library

Robins are everywhere in our backyards and in the trees. This is a close up look at their behavior in nature and how they grow up. Two baby robins tell the story on each page about their dad and his journey to find the perfect nesting spot to have a family. They come back to the same area year after year to raise their young. There are also interesting facts about robins throughout the book. Females head feathers are slightly lighter than the males head feathers. The dads take care of getting the nesting area set up and a few weeks later the females show up to build the nests. The mother bird also sits on the eggs and turns the eggs often to keep them at an even temperature so they do not stick to the shell. The author also shows the different stages of the baby birds’ development up until they are five months old. The illustrations do a great job of depicting the birds and each stage of their development. I would highly recommend this for anyone wanting to learn more about Robins. ( )