Magnificent Birds

Starred review from October 15, 2018
Printmaker Togo presents 14 portraits of bird species, displayed in arresting full-spread linocuts. The dramatic compositions express the distinctiveness of each species and its environment. The outstretched wings of two red-crowned cranes mirror the icy blue of the snow; a wandering albatross is shown flying low over white-capped waves. Togo also describes each bird’s behavioral and physical characteristics: “Though big and heavy, the Australian pelican is very buoyant, thanks to air sacs under its skin and in its bones.” With loving attention to detail, Togo offers an elegant and incisive avian celebration. Ages 10–14.

September 1, 2018

Gr 2-4-The word magnificent can mean many things, and each of these birds possesses a special quality or ability. This picture book aviary features full-color spreads with one or two informative paragraphs for each. The artwork is intricate reduction linocuts. The soft colors reveal each bird in its natural habitat, often shown with a piece of fruit, fish, or other prey in its bill. The Bald Eagle and its spectacular flight displays and the tiny Ruby-throated hummingbird's amazing flying represent North America. From New Zealand is the Kakapo, a rare large green parrot that can live up to 90 years. This introduction to some of the world's most amazing birds-largest wingspan (Wandering Albatross), longest bill (Australian Pelican), most unusual plumage (Great Bird of Paradise), and the furthest nonstop flight (Bar Tailed Godwit)-is a fabulous starting point for nature lovers and bird watchers. VERDICT Good for browsing and learning about the versatility of birds, recommend for all collections.-Frances E. Millhouser, formerly at Fairfax County Public Library, VA

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

August 1, 2018
Fourteen bird species chosen for their dramatic or unusual characteristics are illustrated and described in this album. Each spread presents a full-bleed linocut print of the bird in question in its habitat, with a paragraph or two of detailed text describing such features as flight pattern, typical courtship behavior, plumage, migration, and feeding habits. The text includes fascinating facts about the birds, such as how the flamingo's plumage varies with its diet, the way the bird of paradise shows off its plumage to its mate, the unusual vision of the common kingfisher, and how the toucan uses its enormous beak. Birds that travel vast distances are described, including the wandering albatross, which can cover more than 10,000 miles in a single journey, and the bar-tailed godwit, which flies more than 6,000 miles during migration. One of the most interesting birds is the rare kakapo from New Zealand, which uses its thoracic sac to make a booming sound to attract females. Togo's linocut illustrations are beautifully composed, judiciously colored, and observant renderings of the birds and their habitats and help to give life to the factual text (produced in collaboration with the British Royal Society for the Protection of Birds). However, they seem mismatched to the fine-print, detailed text, looking too junior for the reading level.Lovely but out of sync. (Nonfiction. 10-14)

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January 1, 2019
Beautiful linocut illustrations of birds from around the world are spread across oversize pages on which colorful plumages, prominent beaks, group clusters, and soaring wingspans stand out from--or blend into--landscapes of sea, ice, and foliage. For each of the fourteen species, two serviceable paragraphs describe geographic locations and habitats, as well as interesting physical characteristics and behaviors.

(Copyright 2019 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)