'I hope we see more books like this one in the future. It s basically a nonfiction board book, telling you which sounds each songbird makes. The fact that it s also gorgeous to the eye is just gravy.'
– A Fuse 8 Production
'Like a kindly grandparent, gently pointing out the wonders of nature to a curious child, the book opens readers' eyes (and ears) to the range of birds in our localities. Even grown-ups may discover here birds which they have never noticed or recognised before. Loes Botman's illustrations combine accurate details... With glowing coloured backgrounds. The effect is atmospheric and appealing, as well as being a useful first guide to common birds. Hello Birds is a beautiful first step into nature connection.'– Armadillo
'Here is another gorgeous, bright board book from Dutch illustrator Loes Botman... Botman's exquisite detailed illustrations bring the different birds vibrantly to life making this an ideal book to use with young children for identifying different birds in the garden, on a walk in the park or countryside.'– Outside in World
'I cannot recommend highly enough the gentle glowing and detailed illustrations which are a feast for the senses.[The book is] of course, very robust and ideal for early childhood settings!'– Kindling Magazine
'I love garden birds, so I was immediately attracted to this gorgeous board book. I particularly like the detail of the illustrations. Each page depicts one bird, together with words to describe the bird's call, such as ''Chirp chirp says the sparrow,'' so there is plenty to talk about. The book can even be used as a first spotter's guide!'– Juno Magazine
Praise for Hello Bugs, What Do You Do?
'Botman's soft pastels provide highly detailed images of the insects and other creatures... A lovely biology and vocabulary lesson rolled into one.'– Kirkus Reviews
'The soft, bright pastel renderings give detail to each insect. Children may be inspired to act out the simple verbs for each insect. A nice book for little backyard gardeners.'– Youth Services Book Review
'A perfect book for exploring with young children.'– Outside In World
'This is a gorgeous board book.'– Juno
'With gorgeous illustrations and descriptive words that are fun to say, this is a board book young children will enjoy looking at.'– Through The Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews
2018-07-24
A sequence of birds answer the titular question with their signature sounds, accompanied by impressionistic paintings.
This book is a Dutch import via Scotland, and its origins show in the lineup, as five of the 12 birds represented do not typically occur in North America (and at least two others, the starling and the sparrow, are invasive imports). Still, although most North American children may not recognize the bullfinch or the Eurasian coot, they will get a kick out of chiming in as their caregivers read "Pipe pipe" or "Kowp kowp," respectively. Botman presents each bird on a single page, the features closest to viewers (usually feather details) quite distinct, while the edges blur into dappled, soft-focus backgrounds. There is a peculiar inconsistency to the presentation: While the blue tit and great tit are represented opposite each other as two distinct species, for instance, a mute swan, a mallard drake, and a herring gull are described only as "swan," "duck," and "gull." Still, there's no denying the illustrations are very attractive, and the predictable pattern and onomatopoeia ("Chatter chatter says the magpie. / Chook chook says the blackbird") vigorously support pre-literacy skills.
Though many of these birds aren't likely to be found in most North American backyards, it's nevertheless a friendly introduction to birds and bird calls for children on this side of the pond. (Board book. 1-3)
