Omnibird: An Avian Investigator’s Handbook

Gr 3-6–Omnibird (meaning “the universal bird”) is a silly and fun-loving look at what makes our feathered friends one of the most interesting and distinct specimens in the animal kingdom. Chock full of information, colorful cartoon-like illustrations, and cheerfully irreverent asides, this reference picture book will appeal to young and old animal lovers alike. The text is normal typeface, but any messages to young investigators from illustrations and diagrams (as well as the occasional sarcastic avian remark) look handwritten, as if notes were taken throughout. The two beginning chapters focus on viewing birds in their natural habitats (always cautioning readers not to get too close), basic avian anatomy (feet shape, feathers, etc.), and other aspects of life as a bird (how an egg is formed, nest building, etc.). The latter half of the book focuses on individual bird types (ducks, owls, parrots, etc.) to build on the knowledge obtained in earlier chapters and show examples. Backmatter includes a fun page asking, “If you could be any bird in the world…?”, which could lead to a lively classroom activity, and an index.