Award-winning free-lance science journalist Nicola Jones, most famous for her work on local weather change and environmental points, ventured into the e-book world with an image e-book on the wildlife rehabilitation efforts for certainly one of North America’s most endangered chicken species, the Northern Noticed Owl. With a readership primarily of scholars, Jones—properly, I imagine—kept away from together with the controversial efforts to kill Barred Owls to be able to save the noticed ones. That problem apart, SAVING THE SPOTTED OWL—ZALEA’S STORY is an in depth nonfiction image e-book with a view expands from one particular owl, to Noticed Owls basically, to conservation efforts by way of breeding facilities to avoid wasting different endangered species. The writer is really dedicated to this trigger, and is donating half of her proceeds to the Northern Noticed Owl Breeding Program.
Zalea’s story started when the three-week-old owlet, not but in a position to fly, fell from her tree to the forest flooring, about so far as the drop from a 7th-story constructing. Scientists had been monitoring that tree, and once they discovered the chick on the bottom, they made to determination to rescue. Via the course of the e-book, the readers are launched to actual owls and the actual individuals working to guard them. One of many remaining spreads ends with pictures of Zalea, grown and with chicks of her personal.
Sidebars present extra info to offer background to Zalea’s story, and are put aside not with bins, however by a change in font (from a serif to sans-serif). These sidebars embody specifics in regards to the Northern Noticed Owl, info on endangered species with the IUCN Crimson-Checklist classes, and particulars about a number of the jobs held by biologists.
From an artwork perspective, there’s not a lot cuter than a child owl, with all its fluff and roundness and large eyes. Canadian artist Alexandra Finkeldey’s illustrations seize that unbelievable cuteness, whereas her intricate work for the sections such because the breeding middle, egg improvement, and life cycle floor the e-book in its nonfiction actuality. Her classroom scene is multicultural and inclusive, and her gentle shade palette of greens and browns captures the texture of the Pacific northwest.
If you happen to assume that image books are only for little youngsters, assume once more. Jeopardy star James Holzhauer grew to become a multi-millionaire partially by studying image books as a part of his recreation technique. And that is the e-book to learn in case you’d prefer to be taught extra about Noticed Owls and the individuals and applications that make up their security web of safety. And naturally, it’s nice for teenagers that love birds (or youngsters in whom you need to encourage a love of birds!). Nevertheless, with its dense, wealthy textual content, this isn’t a e-book for youthful youngsters. Intention this on the 7–13 year-olds in your life. With its inclusion of maps, graphics and life cycles, and particulars on job specifics, it’s an ideal match for late elementary by way of center college college students and school rooms, and for varsity and public libraries.
Saving the Noticed Owl—Zalea’s Story by Nicola Jones, illustrated by Alexandra Finkeldey
Children Can Press, 2023
ISBN: 978-1-525-30555-9
$19.99 USA; $21.99 Canada
32 pages, Grade degree 3-7, Lexile 1010 (5th-8th grades)
