The author and illustrator who brought you Leaf Litter Critters are back with even more fun facts and humorous art! Explore the fascinating world of superlative birds―from the bee hummingbird, the tiniest bird in the world, to the peregrine falcon, the fastest creature on Earth.

Ever wonder which bird has the loudest voice? Which one builds the biggest nest or has the most feathers? Get to know all about the best and brightest―and smelliest!―denizens of the bird world with this collection of nonfiction science verses. You won’t need your binoculars to observe the superlative characteristics of these avian wonders. Follow along with a chickadee as it offers fun asides to each of the poems and provides hints to the special traits that only birds share. Readers can even scan a QR code for one of the poems and sing along!

An example of one of the talented birds featured is the lyrebird, known to have the fanciest courtship and best mimic. This copycat (or copy-bird), can imitate all kinds of sounds, from other bird songs to human-made noises. Watch and hear for yourself:

With a science glossary, notes on the various poetry forms, and resources for more information included in Superlative Birds, readers can continue to learn about these amazing animals and their unique talents and qualities. Witty and accurate illustrations add another layer of fun to this humorous and informative gallery. You might even discover a new favorite! Ideal for cross-curricular learning and a great read-aloud for National Poetry Month and beyond, this book is perfect for budding birders and science or poetry fans alike.

★ “With characteristic humor and carefully crafted language, poet Bulion offers readers amazing facts about birds of our world…. These engaging poems read aloud beautifully…. Meganck’s digital illustrations reflect the humorous tone…. Excellent resources for further bird study complete this delightful offering. Entertaining and educational, a superlative package.”
―Kirkus Reviews, STARRED REVIEW

★ “Fascinating facts… Meganck’s illustrations are one-dimensional and friendly, placing the birds against uncluttered backgrounds while clearly emphasizing the characteristic being highlighted by each poem.”
―Booklist, STARRED REVIEW

You might notice on the half-title page spread, illustrator Robert Meganck’s art alludes to his and Leslie Bulion’s previous book, Leaf Litter Critters. Can you find the hint in Superlative Birds about their next book? Look carefully or you could miss it!

Get your own copy of Superlative Birds on Amazon or at your local library, indie bookstore, or Barnes & Noble!

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Grades 2-5

This unique book combines a detailed anatomy lesson with a Shakespearian sonnet. Although these two topics are not ordinarily paired, Random Body Parts provides humorous riddles for students to discover interesting details about how their bodies function. This book is perfect for reading out loud with a health or science class, and having the students laugh along as they try to decipher which body part each riddle references. Try this activity with your class as you read Random Body Parts aloud.

•  Divide your class into groups of five.
• Cut out shapes or print pictures of the following body parts. Make sure each group of five has one copy of each paper body part. Body parts: ear, eye, bone, spleen, kidney, nose, pancreas, liver, eyelid, brain, lung, heart, tongue, teeth, stomach, skin, blood, red blood cells, white blood cells, and muscles. Be sure to label each body part.
• As you read the story aloud, have the group quietly decide which body part the poem references before you get to the end of the particular riddle.
• The first group to hold up the correct body part gets 3 points. Each group that holds up the correct body part thereafter receives one point.
• Keep score on a white board or chalk board.
• After the story is completed, the team with the most points wins!

Click here for the full summary of Random Body Parts and here for the full teacher’s guide.