February 1, 2018
This unusual text provides a fascinating history of 30 different types of birds, arranged alphabetically from the blackbird to the woodpecker. Rather than share basic facts on various bird species, journalist and wildlife photographer Wills has compiled some intriguing stories from the history of the human relationship with birds, including their symbolism in art, literature, religion, and folklore. The entries range in length from two to eight pages and abound with quirky anecdotes from history. For example, the entry on parrots reveals that the bird has been a popular pet for U.S. presidents. Andrew Jackson owned a parrot, Poll, that picked up some of his more colorful language. Poll was present at his funeraland had to be physically removed because of her swearing. Annotated historical images, photographs (by the author), and drawings of the featured birds appear throughout the book, as well as text boxes that highlight certain historical interactions. This captivating book will delight bird fans.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)