Paper Birds That Fly

Library Journal

The projects in each of these books use the techniques of origami for making paper figures although they break the rules of origami with their use of glue in construction. Schmidt has turned his attention from airplanes (Super Paper Airplanes, LJ 11/1/95) to birds that fly, using the paper airplane flight principle. The birds are realistic representations of primarily North American birds and can be flown or made into mobiles. British artist David Swinton's paper sculptures are more complex, artistic figures such as flowers, human figures, and a fiery dragon's head. Projects in both books have well-illustrated instructions and lists of materials

School Library Journal

Gr 5 UpWith the help of this book, and using nothing more glamorous or exotic than plain white paper, pencil, scissors or craft knife, markers, glue stick, ruler, and a few circular patterns, it is possible to create realistic-looking birds that, when built to exact specifications, actually fly. (The author gives hints for those truly interested in flying the models and warns that it takes experimentation and patience.) This book will be snapped up by paper-airplane builders, since these models resemble them closely in purpose and technique, but add a new and colorful dimension to the genre. The directions for folding, cutting, gluing, and coloring are accompanied by line drawings, which can sometimes be slightly confusing because they aren't to scale, but by and large, they are fairly easy to follow. However, in a few instances one or the other is omitted and a little extrapolation is necessary to complete a step. Because the introduction consists of a relatively understandable explanation of the physics of bird flight, this book could also be used for ideas for an attractive and inexpensive science project. This colorful title is sure to find an audience.Carrie Schadle, New York Public Library