Clever Crow

“Wherever you are right now,” Butterworth opens in this engaging look at corvids, “there’s sure to be a crow or two nearby.” In the first of many beautifully drafted spreads whose layers of textural variation complement their muted palette, Gill crams humankind’s built environments into a single space. Since crows live “across the world,” the Eiffel Tower rubs shoulders with domed edifices and pyramids loom in the distance. Following a series of spreads that list things crows don’t do (“Crows are not fancy fliers”), the conversation shifts to what distinguishes these remarkable birds (“If a crow looks at you with its small, round eye, you can be sure it’s thinking”). Noting that crows use tools, can trick other birds when stashing food, and know how to play, this assemblage of corvid portraits form a stately, intelligent survey of crow types. Ages 3–7. (July)