Children's Books
Welcome to the Youth Services Children's Books blog. We encourage you to give feedback and share.
Winner of numerous book awards, this is an intriguing account of how the Ivory-billed Woodpecker, also known as the Lord God Bird, became extinct. On my reading list for several years now, I finally got around to finishing it when my interest was once again piqued after reading Where Things Come Back, a fictional story in which the bird has been sighted. The Race to Save... chronicles the bird from the years when there was a fairly abundant population, to relatively recent years when it became a tragically rare bird that could not be saved. The quickly dwindling number of birds becomes a very personal story for the reader. There are many factors that contribute to this, including fads like wearing plumes in hats, and hunters who locate specimens for museums and personal collectors. This heartbreaking story is told using maps showing the diminishing habitat, photographs of the people who dedicated their lives to the woodpecker, the places where they lived, and the beautiful bird itself. The reader learns not only about the woodpecker, but also how the methods of studying birds have changed through the years. Learning about the necessary environment needed for an Ivory-billed Woodpecker to survive was the key to discovering why it was becoming extinct. A backstory about the creation of the Audubon Society during this period is included. Efforts were made to stop the loggers who supplied wood for the Singer sewing machine company, as well as for wooden boxes (coffins and tea boxes) for WWII. The southern forests were critical habitats for the bird, but with no alternate solution in sight, the destruction of its habitat and depletion of its food supply ultimately led to the birds' demise. The last confirmed sighting of the bird was in Cuba in 1986. Recent bird sightings by reputable eyewitnesses has led to much excitement, but has not been substantiated by any proof. The bird is thought to be extinct in both US and Cuba. This story will appeal to bird lovers and those interested in conservation in grades 6- adult. 
Told in three parts, this book of poems tells the story over the course of the year, 1975, from the perspective of 10-year-old Ha. Her father is missing-in-action during the Vietnam War and her mother has decided to try to escape the country before Saigon falls to the Communists. Leaving on a navy ship with hundreds of others also trying to escape, Ha, (with her mother and three brothers), is rescued by an American ship and taken to a tent city in Guam where they will ultimately decide where they want to go next. Ha's mother chooses America when she hears her sons might earn scholarships to college. They arrive in Florida, and stay in another tent city where they must have a sponsor take responsibility for them before they can leave. To become more eligible, Ha's mother changes their religion to Christian on their application. A man from Alabama comes looking for a boy he can train as a mechanic. He chooses Brother Quang who possesses some engineering education, and ends up with the entire family of five! The final portion of the book covers the family's time in Alabama - learning English, going to school, coming to terms with the fact their country doesn't exist anymore and are likely not to ever see their father again. This book won a 2012 Newbery Honor Award and was a National Book Award Winner. Suitable for readers in grades 6-8 who enjoy historical fiction and stories about children whose lives are greatly altered by war. This is easy to read and includes a message about bullying. 
Search
Recent Posts
Categories
Archive
 | Powered by engagedpatrons.org |
Upcoming events
- Tween CCG: Winter Layers Dessert(4 hours)
- Preschool Storytime(1 day)
- Teen Zone: TAB(1 day)
- Digital Download Demonstration(1 day)
- Digital Download Demonstration(2 days)
- Family Storytime(2 days)
Subscribe (RSS)
Library Hours
Monday - Thursday
10 a.m.-8 p.m.
Friday
10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Saturday-Sunday
1-5 p.m.
