Betsy Franco

Throughout the day and into the night various birds sing their songs, beginning with the woodpecker who taps a pole ten times and counting down to the hummingbird who calls once.

Birdsongs

Sarah Sammis

Birdsongs by Betty Franco and illustrated by Steve Jenkins is a delightful children's book that's takes a typical counting book and mixes with with some basic ornithology along with the story of an approaching storm.

Each page marks the passage of time with a new bird and a new bird song. There are crows, chickadees, morning doves, sea gulls and a humming bird among others. Harriet loves the way different birdsongs are counted all the way down to the single humming bird zzzt. She likes the make the different birdsongs and point out the birds.

Sean meanwhile likes Steve Jenkins's illustrations. Jenkins builds each illustration with carefully cut and layered bits of paper. These collages have a nice sense of texture and depth.

Birdsongs is a perfect bedtime story. It's soothing and rhythmic and easy to read. It keeps the attention of both my two-year-old and my six-year-old which is crucial for our nightly routine.

Birdsongs

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