Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 03/01/2015 PreS-Gr 3—A northern flicker, a yellow-bellied sapsucker, and other woodpeckers of the eastern deciduous forests "chip," "chop," and "wham" their way through the seasons through crisp verses and paper collages in this informational picture book. There are quiet moments as well: woodpeckers "pluck and feed" at the cherry tree while cherries dangle against an azure sky. Jenkins's illustrations are top-notch, beautifully depicting the different subspecies of woodpeckers, such as the flicker's subtle grays and golds, which contrast with its neck rings, and spotted chest. With metronomic precision, Sayre's verses describe the woodpecker's activity: "Hawk's a-hunting./Stop. Drop. Hide./Quiet/on the other side," and along with the illustrations, mostly spreads, make for engaging read-alouds. The end pages, supported by information from Cornell's Laboratory of Ornithology and other biologists, offer more information that will be key for students engaged in Common Core activities, paired with small images, which name the featured woodpeckers. Readers learn how these birds forage, build shelter and nests, avoid predators, and instruct their young, among other topics. VERDICT Lovely and exciting, this title is a great hook for young researchers, as well as fledgling ornithologists.—Teresa Pfeifer, The Springfield Renaissance School, Springfield, MA - Copyright 2015 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Booklist - 04/01/2015 Woodpeckers don’t just peck. They chop, bonk, tap, and slam, doing serious work. The same team that collaborated most recently on Eat like a Bear (2014) now takes youngsters through the seasons with a creature they may observe in their own backyards. Short, playful text featuring plenty of action words and onomatopoeia describes a variety of woodpecker activities, from sending messages, finding insects and sap, and preening to preparing homes. Their role in the ecosystem is also indicated. After woodpeckers abandon their homes, other animals may move in. And woodpeckers help with seed dispersal when they make a meal of berries. Endnotes offer further information, beginning with the explanation that the varieties featured in the book are those that live together in the eastern deciduous forests of the U.S. Paper-collage art depicts the different kinds of woodpeckers in all their beauty. No cartoony black, white, and red here: these birds sport patterns of bars, spots, or streaks, and coloring may include browns and yellows (a key is provided). This strikes the right note for budding bird-watchers. - Copyright 2015 Booklist.