RSPB First Book of Birds

Reviews also includes:

Flowers, 978-1408137178

Mammals, 978-1408137161

Minibeasts, 978-1408137154

Produced in partnership with the RSPB, this attractive new series of four titles introduces children to the wildlife around them, whether in the back garden, in the town or countryside. The books are reminiscent of the old Michelin ‘l-Spy’ titles, but the bigger format and more lavish production makes it hard at first to contemplate filling in the spotter’s charts at the end of each one. However these are primarily identification guides, each page depicting a single bird, flower or animal, and picking out significant features. Artwork is realistic and detailed enough to help recognition, but there is no indication of scale, so a wren appears bigger than a starling, a sparrow the same size as a magpie. Simple in approach and clearly laid out, these would make ideal first field guides for young nature spotters.