Robins!: How They Grow Up

by Eileen Christelow, Eileen Christelow (Illustrator)

Overview

Robins are the most familiar and beloved of all birds, found throughout North America and celebrated as one of the first signs of spring. But there's a lot about them that most people don’t know! In this visually stunning picture book that features comic-book panels combined with painterly illustrations, Eileen Christelow tells the story of two young robins’ first year, and reveals plenty of little-known facts that are sure to captivate young naturalists. Narrated with humor and filled with kid-pleasing details, this fascinating account of how robins grow up includes an Author’s Note, Glossary, More About Robins, and Sources.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780544442894
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	02/07/2017
Pages:	48
Sales rank:	677,826
Product dimensions:	11.10(w) x 10.60(h) x 0.50(d)
Lexile:	650L (what's this?)
Age Range:	6 - 9 Years

About the Author

Eileen Christelow has written and illustrated numerous best-selling picture books including eleven popular stories about the Five Little Monkeys, Vote!, and Robins!: How They Grow Up. She lives with her husband in East Dummerston, Vermont. 

Editorial Reviews

01/02/2017
Addressing readers, two robin “teenagers” explain how they came to live in “your yard.” Making good use of sequential panels to show the changing seasons, chicks’ development, and passage of time, Christelow’s (the Five Little Monkeys series) airy, sketchlike digital illustrations portray pivotal moments in the robins’ lives, from leaving the nest to learning to fly and finding food. Cartoony versions of the robins in the margins offer quips and informative comments, but Christelow never sugarcoats the difficulties of being a small bird in a world of predators. A squirrel devours one of their siblings’ eggs before it hatches, and a brother is later swept up by a hawk: “Mom and Dad chase the hawk, scolding and screaming, but he flies away, our brother dangling from his talons.” A glossary and other details about robins conclude this insightful study of an unflashy but fascinating bird. Ages 6–9. (Feb.)

Publishers Weekly

USA TODAY says ★★★★ stars. “Stuffed with information, much of it fascinating and likely to be a surprise even to adult readers.” "Fresh and inviting, here’s the go-to book for children curious about robins." —Booklist, starred review "A glossary and other details about robins conclude this insightful study of an unflashy but fascinating bird." —Publishers Weekly "...as infectious as the ubiquitous bird's own 'Cheerily-cheerily, cheerily-cheerup, cheerup!'" —Kirkus "Christelow’s accurate illustrations are action filled and make excellent use of panels to depict multiple perspectives on bird poses and behavior, as well as moment-by-moment events..." —Horn Book, starred review Praise for Vote! "It's hard to imagine a more accessible introduction to voting. . . . Whimsical and creative . . . vote aye on this one." —Booklist, starred review "Well-executed . . . accessible." —Publishers Weekly "Colorful, comical illustrations . . . light, yet informative tone. . . . This accessible and appealing title deserves a place in all collections." —School Library Journal "Brisk and engaging." —The Washington Post —

From the Publisher

2016-12-26
Two young robins ("robin teenagers!") chattily describe their first spring and fall.Inspired by the appearance of a nest built atop a hoe in her garden shed, Christelow creates a pair of feathered narrators who present their life story—or the first part, at least. That begins in early spring with the arrival of Dad, who stakes out a territory in preparation for the later appearance of Mom. Subsequent nesting, hatching, and fledging occur in due order—with the consumption of "fourteen feet of worms" in the first two weeks alone ("Regurgitated worms! Yum!"). They also lose two sibs to a squirrel and a hawk, practice flying, watch parents and other members of the flock to learn about personal care as well as hazards and food sources, and finally molt and migrate south. In keeping with the informal tone, the author places loosely drawn animal figures in a mix of large single or smaller sequential panels, or sometimes just out on the open page with text enclosed in dialogue balloons. Aside from one poorly placed comment that may leave readers with the impression that Dad fertilized the eggs after they were laid, the natural history is accurate. A closing Q-and-A fills in more detail, including the salient fact that not all robins are migratory. Anthropomorphic but basically sound and as infectious as the ubiquitous bird's own "Cheerily-cheerily, cheerily-cheerup, cheerup!" (author's note, glossary, sources) (Informational picture book. 5-10)

Kirkus Reviews