Awards

Reviews

“A band of five cartoon bluebirds travel the world in search of record-setting bird species – the fastest, best mimic, highest flying, pinkest and more. This third in a series, which began with The BLUES Go Birding Across America (2010), continues to promote bird-watching among young readers through the antics of bluebirds musicians Bing, Lulu, Uno, Eggbert and Sammi – each with identifiable characteristics and easily distinguished from the more realistic birds illustrated on the pages. Each of the dozen species is introduced in the narrative and described further through entries in a nature notebook and a field guide. “Extra Extremes” mention species that set similar records. Some of the birds may be familiar to young readers – the peregrine falcon, emperor penguin and ostrich, for instance – but others will be new. Their trip ends with a sighting of the horned sungem hummingbird in Brazil, an opportunity for the authors to promote an upcoming volume about the rain forest. The band’s trip is mapped at the end on a world map with labeled continents; a handy list reviews the species and notes where they were sighted. The facts have been vetted by a birding expert, sources are given in the acknowledgements and birding closer to home is encouraged. This is a clever extension of the series, taking advantage of children’s interest in records and in Xtreme sports of all kinds.”

— Kirkus Reviews (February 15, 2011)

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“The Blues Go Extreme Birding is another epic adventure in birdwatching with the five cartoon bluebirds, Bing, Lulu, Uno, Eggbert, and Sammi. This time the Blues decide to go extreme birding, trying to discover record-setting birds around the globe. The Blues Go Extreme Birding is designed to appeal to children ages 5-9, and is a wonderful invitation to explore the wonders of nature. As the Blues undertake their adventure tour, pertinent facts and data are presented in sidebar paragraphs, embedded in the fantastic and accurate illustrations. Each Blue has a different personality and specific interests and skills that help direct the successful birdwatching expedition. At the end of the book is an artist’s illustration of a global map with pictures of the unusual species of birds they saw and where they saw them. Further suggestions for interested young birdwatchers are presented at the end of the book. The Blues Go Extreme Birding presents many fascinating facts about the numerous species of birds encountered during the trip, providing excellent additional natural science education opportunities.”

— Midwest Book Review (May 2011)