Whose Nest is This?

"Springtime is here. There is work to be done, as animal parents make nests for their young. Using pebbles, or woodchips, even mud, spit, and leaves-many creatures make nests…Whose nests are these?" So begins this spirited, rhyming, picture book that describes in riddle-form the many types of nests animals make, from the tiny ruby-throated hummingbird to the imposing sea turtle. "There are mammals and reptiles and insects who nest. Birds, too, build unique nests that suit them the best. Some nests provide shelter, and some are for show, but the best nests are those in which young babies grow!"

This spirited, rhyming picture book describes in riddle form the many types of nests animals make from the tiny ruby-throated hummingbird to the imposing sea turtle. There are mammals and reptiles and insects who nest. Birds, too, build unique nests that suit them the best. Some nests provide shelter, and some are for show, but the best nests are those in which young babies grow!

School Library Journal

PreS-Gr 2—This picture book describes the nests of various birds, insects, mammals, fish, and reptiles. Whether it's an elf owl's cavity in a giant Saguaro, a Caribbean flamingo's mound of mud in shallow water, or a sea turtle's sandy pit, these shelters are described in brief rhymed texts: "Imagine a rocky-hard 'nest.' Can that be?/Picture an egg balanced delicately./High on a cliff this egg rests on a ledge./Whew! It rolls in a circle—not off the edge." The title question is then repeated at the end of each rhyme, and the nest builder is identified (in this example, a common murre). The creatures are brought to life in the engaging rhymes and vivid art. The illustrations in Bert Kitchen's And So They Build (Candlewick, 1995) are a little more realistic and provide more details.—Frances E. Millhouser, formerly at Chantilly Regional Library, Fairfax County, VA

Heidi Bee Roemer works as an instructor for The Institute of Children's Literature, and serves as an advisor for the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. She lives in Orland Park, Illinois. Connie McClennan is an artist and children's book illustrator whose work has appeared in Sunset Magazine, Weekly Reader, and Highlights for Children. She lives in Rocklin, California.