Birds: Nature's Magnificent Flying Machines

by Caroline Arnold

Hovering, gliding, diving -- how do birds do it? BIRDS: NATURE'S MAGNIFICENT FLYING MACHINES looks at how feathers, body structure, and wings vary from bird to bird. Readers will learn the mechanics of bird flight from takeoff to landing and discover how wing types meet the survival needs of each species. Popular science writer Caroline Arnold infuses this informative look at avian flight with her love of birds. Patricia J. Wynne's exquisitely detailed illustrations show these amazing creatures in action.

Genres: Birds, Science, Picture Books, Nonfiction

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2003

Reviews

[Jocelina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about Birds. I like this book because the birds is help another one how to fly and the colors of birds is so beautiful and the beach.

[Carol Doeringer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book explains the biology of bird flight in wonderfully approachable detail. From feathers to flapping, it explains both the anatomy and the movements that enable birds to get and stay aloft. Perfect for kids aged 6-9 or thereabouts, this book will satisfy both kids’ and adults’ curiosity about how birds manage to fly. I learned quite a bit from the book, and I’ll bet other grownups will, too.

[Chui Ying · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book in the format of a Tumble Book and I loved it! The Tumble Book, with it's animation, sound and narration made the topic of bird flight come alive for me - especially relevant in a book about the mechanisms of flight.

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an interesting and educational book about birds! In its beautifully illustrated pages the reader can learn about the bird body, bones, flight, feathers, wings, take-off, flapping, gliding, soaring, hovering, steering, landing, long-distance flying, flying speed, and more.

[Whole And · Rating 5 out of 5]

A magnificent book on the science of flight. Beautifully illustrated and explained. A perfect science - bird book to fascinate and leave the readers in awe.

[Laura Stiller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the illustrations in this book. Great for kids who are nature journaling.

[Leslie Brevard · Rating 4 out of 5]

4th- 6th grades
Wynne brought realness to the pictures that he used in this book. They were not real photographs, but they did seem very real with the way she drew them. The colors seemed to match each bird well and she also used nice background fillers as well. The text was a little small and did have a lot of large words on the page. Even though there was not a lot of text on the pages, I still think that this book would be hard for younger children to read and actually understand. I do think the younger ones would like the book though for the illustrations that were used. If you like birds then this book would be a great one these students could relate to. There are many facts about them and also there is a variety of birds present in this book.
Science/ Arts
After reading the book I would ask the children to take a picture of a bird (with a camera that I would supply) and tell me why they wanted this bird to be in our picture book of birds.

[Barkshire Woods · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really nice drawings. Fantastic information.