Sparrows

Children's Literature

The “Backyard Animals” series includes nine titles about animals that can be found in cities and town around the country. Butterflies, coyotes, deer, opossums, rabbits, raccoons, skunks, sparrows and squirrels are featured in the series. Each animal is introduced with a large photo and information about where they live and a few characteristics that make them special. A brief history provides information about the development of the species worldwide. A large photograph of the animal provides information about their specific body parts and how they help it survive in nature. The animal’s life cycle and what it eats are illustrated with photographs. Details about where humans are most likely to interact with the featured animal and myths from various cultures make the information more relevant and interesting to young readers. Sparrows are small birds that are found all over the world. They easily adapt to a variety of environments and are found in swamps, prairies, marshes and deserts, as well as in cities. They were brought from Europe to the New World to help the settlers protect their crops from insects. In the winter, sparrows eat seeds, sometimes as many as 4,000 seeds in one hour. They are one of the most common birds in the world and there are numerous myths and legends about them. Large photographs and sidebars with factoids make this a nice way to learn about common animals children might see in their neighborhood. Reviewer: Kristin Harris