Emily the Chickadee: Emily Waits for Her Family

By Carol Zelaya
Illustrated by Kristin Metcalf

Recommended by: Jane Herbst, Babylon Union Free School District, Babylon Teachers Association

Suitable for: grades K-1

Why I chose it: This book is about how to build a relationship with a wild bird, and the illustrations are suited to primary grades. While there are other authors known for their portrayals of nature and animals, they have not promoted the scientific observation techniques that are used and included in a chart at the end of this book.

Since the book is basically adult-hand size, it is better to read it with a child or two in order for the students to see the detail in each illustration.

How teachers can use this book: The scientific information about birds and observing them is valuable; the artwork is naturalistic, detailed and uses warm colors, which might elicit drawing or collage activities; the mathematical skill of sequencing is used; and the rhyme scheme, while simplistic and forced at times, presents a predictable vocabulary that can be used by early readers and those seeking sight-word increases.

What I like best: The strength of this book and the rest of the series (Caring for Emily's Family, and Emily's New Home) is that in addressing the need for observation and documentation without interfering with the animals or plants, our students may become involved with our living environment without using a "virtual" tool.