In Bird Count, sumptuously illustrated by Stephanie Fizer Coleman, a child becomes a community scientist for a day in her town’s annual Christmas Bird Count. Ava is excited when Big Al, the leader of their count team, asks her to record the tally. Using her most important tools—her eyes and ears—she eagerly identifies and counts the birds they observe on their assigned route around the town. Carefully Ava and her team follow the rules of the count, as she records the numbers on their tally sheet. At the end of the day, they meet up with other teams in the area for a Christmas Bird Count party, where they combine their totals and share stories about their observations. Back matter includes more information about the birds Ava’s team records and about the National Audubon Society’s annual Christmas Bird Count!
Awards
Parents’ Choice Silver Award (2019)
International Literacy Association Primary Fiction Award (2020)
Cooperative Children’s Book Center Choices Selection
Mathical Honor Book (2021)
Praise
Readers will love searching for birds along with Ava and her companions…. This book introduces elementary school readers to the world of birds and citizen science in an accessible, welcoming way. —School Library Journal
An instructive and attractive picture book for aspiring ornithologists and young nature aficionados. —Publishers Weekly
A wonderful introduction to bird-watching and the concept of observing nature… Parents be warned: this book is so appealing that, come next December, you may find yourself out in the cold, counting birds. —Booklist
Clever design… Count guidelines are smoothly worked into Richmond's narrative... An engaging, informative introduction.. —Kirkus Reviews
By showing Ava’s cumulative tally on the right-hand side of each double-page spread, author Susan Edwards Richmond text encourages readers to participate and Stephanie Fizer Coleman’s delightful illustrations accurately depict the small birds. Ava’s day should inspire others not only to observe birds but to help them by counting. —Kemie Nix, Chairman of Children’s Literature for Children (CLC)
Great book on citizen scientists. A must read and should be in all public and elementary school libraries. The backmatter adds depth. —Terry Young, retired librarian and judge for the AAAS/Subaru Science Books & Films Prize for Excellence in Science Books
This charming and handsomely illustrated story . . . is accurate in detail, and it wonderfully captures a young person’s enthusiasm . . . –Wayne R. Petersen, Director of Massachusetts Important Bird Area (IBA) Program
