Review Detail

Turn This Book Into a Bird Feeder!: And 19 Other Activities to Explore the Amazing World of Birds

Middle Grade Non-Fiction 337

Hours of Instruction and Entertainment

February 09, 2025 (Updated: June 15, 2026)

Overall rating

5.0

Writing Style

5.0

Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)

5.0

Learning Value

5.0

Bird watching has become something of a trend in middle grade literature (McCullough's Across the Pond, King's The Drake Equation, Miller's Rare Birds, Lord's Home Away From Home), so it's not surprising to see a complete guide to start this hobby for young readers. Along with tips to get started, there is a lot of good factual information about birds as a species. From "what makes a bird a bird" to chapters on feathers, how birds fly, and what they eat, the life of birds, and why we need them, this covers all of the information one could want to know about our feathered friends. This book is a paperback, but has a cardstock weight dust jacket that has directions on how to turn it into a bird feeder, which is very clever.

In between the chapters, there are activities that relate to the information presented. There is a duck call to make from a straw, an experiment putting oil on paper to mimic feathers' waterproof qualities, instructions on how to draw a bird, and even an experiment to replicate bird beaks with household items.

Good Points

My favorite section might have been the illustrated list of birds that are common to different areas. The thumbnail sketches are labeled with the bird names, and are very detailed for their small size. I was able to identify the goldfinches and red winged blackbirds that are common where I live.

I'm looking forward to sharing a LOT of nature activity books with my grandchildren, and can't wait until they have good scissor skills to turn the dust jacket of this book into a bird feeder! I am shelving this title along with Storey Publishing's Backpack Explorer Discovering Trees and On the Nature Trail, Roehring's Rainbow Science, and Rothman's Ocean Anatomy Activity Book. For more information on birds, Collard's and Brooks' Waiting for a Warbler is also a good choice.