What is a Bird?

These companion volumes show small insets of birds against photos of the landscapes and skies they inhabit. It's a design that works perfectly with Hirschi's understated text and Burrell's provocative camera's eye, because it forces readers to focus on both the bird and the larger world. What Is a Bird? quietly shows that birds are soft feathers or colorslike a brilliant red cardinal and a mountain bluebird. Where Do Birds Live? offers an idea of the many varied spots that birds consider homefrom the end of a twig, to a scruffy, homemade birdhouse. The identities and surroundings of the birds are included in the back of eachbook, which leaves the information up front wonderfully concise and free of any excess. Simple books, poetically packed with insights for young bird watchers. Ages 5-9. (December)