Birds of a Feather: Bowerbirds and Me

“Birds of a Feather: Bowerbirds and Me”

Bowerbirds live in Australia. Author/illustrator Susan L. Roth lives in New York. One is a bird. One is a human. What could these two possibly have in common? LOTS!

In this book, readers will discover how art imitates nature and how nature imitates art. Susan L. Roth’s collage technique illustrates the commonalities that she shares with bowerbirds while educating the reader about the bowerbird and her creative process. In the end, they both create colorful works of art using objects they find and collect in their natural habitats.

This book promotes creative components of nature, creative process, and being a creative person.

WHY I LIKE THIS BOOK:  Often times, creative people look to nature for inspiration. I like this book because it compares two unlikely subjects, a person and a bird, to find commonalities in the creative process of creating. 

TITLE: Birds of a Feather: Bowerbirds and Me

AUTHOR: Susan L. Roth

ILLUSTRATOR: Susan L. Roth

PUBLISHER: Neal Porter Books, 2019

AGE GROUP: 4-7

TOPIC(S): bower birds, nature, an artist’s process

CREATIVE COMPONENTS: nature, creative person, creative process

LEARNING EXTENSIONS:

1) With what animal do you share common traits? Use scissors or your fingers to tear colorful paper into pieces. Arrange these pieces to form your chosen animal and glue them onto a fresh sheet of paper.

2) Take a few moments to observe a tree. In what three ways are you and the tree similar? 

EXTENDING CONNECTIONS:

To learn more about author/illustrator Susan L. Roth, visit:

http://susanlroth.com/bio_story.htm

http://susanlroth.com/index.htm

The Unexpected Love Story of Alfred Fiddleduckling

“The Unexpected Love Story of Alfred Fiddleduckling”

Captain Alfred sails home with new ducks for his farm and a special gift for his wife, a duck egg nestled in his fiddle case, when an unexpected storm overturns his boat.

In the deep fog, the little duckling Alfred hatches alone. 

When Alfred discovers Captain Alfred’s fiddle floating near him, he embraces it with all his heart, and it unexpectedly makes a beautiful sound. 

Alfred and the fiddle land on shore where they encounter a beast, who dances to their music. The beast is a dog who belongs to Captain Alfred’s wife. 

Alfred plays and plays. Who do you think hears his beautiful music?

You must read this book to find out.

This book promotes creative components of being original, unique, and passionate.

WHY I LIKE THIS BOOK:  I like this book because author-illustrator Timothy Basil Ering’s creative storytelling intricately weaves unusual characters, an unexpected setting, and a heartfelt plot.

TITLE: The Unexpected Love Story of Alfred Fiddleduckling

AUTHOR: Timothy Basil Ering

ILLUSTRATOR: Timothy Basil Ering

PUBLISHER: Candlewick Press, 2017

AGE GROUP: 4-6

TOPIC(S): love, embracing one’s true passion

CREATIVE COMPONENTS: being original, unique, and passionate

LEARNING EXTENSIONS:

1) Imagine you have a special egg. Draw a picture of your egg as it hatches? What might hatch from your egg? What special talent does your hatchling have?

2) Make a list of twenty nouns (people, places, things). Write each noun on a slip of paper. Fold the papers and put in a bag. Shake the bag. Pull out five pieces of paper. Create a story that involves all five items.

EXTENDING CONNECTIONS:

To learn more about author-illustrator Timothy Basil Ering, visit: http://timbasilering.com/index.php/bio/

Nancy Knows

“Nancy Knows”

Nancy knows she has forgotten something important. When she tries to remember, she thinks of all different kinds of things. 

Things with wheels.

Clothes.

Things in rows.

Sometimes her nose can do the remembering. Sometimes her ears do the remembering.

Finally tired of trying to remember, she stops thinking. Then she remembers! Read this book to find out what Nancy remembers.

This book promotes creative components of imagination, flexible thinking, and different perspectives.

WHY I LIKE THIS BOOK:  I like this book because the illustrations force the reader to pause and think and then assimilate common objects in an uncommon way.

TITLE: Nancy Knows

AUTHOR: Cybèle Young

ILLUSTRATOR: Cybèle Young

PUBLISHER: Tundra Books, 2014

AGE GROUP: 3-6

TOPIC(S): elephants, categories, remembering, friendship

CREATIVE COMPONENTS: imagination, different perspectives, flexible thinking

LEARNING EXTENSIONS:

1) Draw an outline of an elephant. Draw things that you remember from days ago.

2) Find objects from around your home. Categorize the items any which way that makes sense to you. Draw an outline of your favorite animal. What do any of these items have in common with your animal? Arrange the items inside the outline of your animal.

EXTENDING CONNECTIONS:

To learn more about author/illustrator Cybèle Young, visit:

http://www.cybeleyoung.ca/about