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 "Sublime
illustrations and keenly observant verse are sure to captivate in this
collection about a hummingbird who sets up house in the author's
backyard..."
Publishers Weekly,
starred review
"As in the best nature
writing, the excitement here is in the particulars that bring
readers up close to universe."
Booklist, starred review
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Learn more ...
Scroll
down or flit around the links below:
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Reviews and
Awards
HUMMINGBIRD NEST:
A Journal of Poems
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Claudia Lewis Poetry Award, Bank Street College of Education |
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John Burroughs Nature Award |
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Booklinks Lasting Connections |
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The ASPCA Henry Bergh Children’s Book Award
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CCBC Choices |
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Nominated for the 2005-2006 Texas Bluebonnet Master List,
2006-2007 South Carolina Picture Book Award |
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NCTE Notable Children's Book Language Arts |
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KIND Children's Honor Book |
"As
in the best nature writing, the excitement here is in the
particulars that bring readers up close to universe." Booklist,
starred review
"Sublime
illustrations and keenly observant verse are sure to captivate in this
collection about a hummingbird who sets up house in the author's
backyard..." Publishers Weekly,
starred review
"An engaging cycle of poems...The watercolor illustrations, though
not to scale, capture some of the magic of watching the tiny bird
and her babies... Lots of extra
information about hummingbirds for those who fall under their
spell." New York Times Book Review
"George captures the unfolding drama in brief, lovely poems that
chronicle the hummingbirds’ activities ... Barry Moser’s delicate
watercolor sketches visually extend the idea of the book as a
“nature journal,” and each one is dated to establish the startlingly
brief timeline in which events occurred. Within that whirlwind of
activity, each poem is a moment of deliberate contemplation,
witnessing a miracle of nature. (MS) ©2005 Cooperative Children’s
Book Center
"...a tender treasure...I heartily recommend this book to
hummingbird lovers and children of all ages..." Beth Kingsley
Hawkins The Hummingbird Connection, The Journal of The
Hummingbird Society
"A family watches with breathless fascination as a hummingbird
builds a nest on their porch, lays her eggs, and cares for her
young. Brief poems and delicate watercolors convey a sense of wonder
and excitement. A nature lover's delight." Curriculum Connections
...four of the poems were featured as a "mini-book" in the March
19th, 2004 issue of Time for Kids, along with an interview
and teacher's guide.
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HUMMINGBIRD
NEST:
A Journal of Poems
The woods hold not such
another gem
as the nest of the hummingbird.
The finding of one is an event.
- John Burroughs, naturalist |
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Imagine my family's delight when we realized that a
mother hummingbird was building a nest in the small potted tree on
our back patio! For roughly two months, we had our very own private
nature show, live and in full color! Publication of
Hummingbird Nest this spring has been a wonderful way to
remember this extraordinary experience — from nest building to two successful
solos.
The photo above was taken about an hour after the second
bird left the nest and made his first
wobbly flight. (This is one of only a handful of pictures I
took because I didn't want to disturb the mother and risk
causing her to abandon her nest.) After his "solo" the tiny
bird sat on a branch and chirped piteously; I was so
relieved to see "mom" return. Thank goodness! (One
of the many things I learned about hummingbirds is that
the mother cares for her fledglings for a few days
after they leave the nest.)
Shortly after that, fledgling and mom disappeared
from our yard; our hummingbird drama was officially over.
I feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to share our
experience with readers through my poetry and Barry Moser's
exquisite watercolors. As John Burroughs says in his quote
above, the finding a hummingbird nest is "an event." It truly
is!
P.S. See sidebar in "From
Building to Hatching: Books about Nests" by Jacqueline
Davies for more about writing Hummingbird Nest.
(Permission to reprint "From Building to Hatching: Books about
Nests" by Jacqueline Davies (Volume 14, Number 2; November
2004 issue) granted by
Book Links: Connecting Books, Libraries, and Classrooms,
published by the American Library Association.) (Adobe Acrobat
file) |
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Table of Contents
HUMMINGBIRD NEST: A Journal of Poems |
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"Visitor"
"Breakfast on the Patio"
"Spiders, Beware!"
"Nest Construction"
"Expectant"
"The Dog Complains"
"The Cat Remarks"
"Nest Check"
"Just Hatched"
"Crack!"
"Nestlings"
"Helpless"
"Finding Eggshells"
"A Bird's-Eye View"
"Warning" |
"Feed Me! Feed Me!"
"Flight Practice"
"Sky's Invitation"
"Solo"
"Farewell"
"Left Behind"
"Takeoff?"
"Empty Nest"
"Congratulations!"
"New Visitors"
Author's Note
More About Hummingbirds
Books About Hummingbirds |
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Hummingbird Nest: A Journal of Poems
by Kristine
O'Connell George
Illustrated by Barry Moser
Harcourt, 2004
All ages ISBN 0152023259
Booksense Use this
link to order online from that wonderful independent
bookstore in your own neighborhood.
Amazon Any rebates received will be donated to First Book
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An American Library Association Great Web Site for Kids
Copyright © 1997 - 2004
Kristine O'Connell George. All rights reserved.
Acknowledgements, Site Awards, and Privacy Notice
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