Baby Bird's First Nest

by Frank Asch

In the middle of the night, Baby Bird rolls over and falls out of her warm, cozy nest. Sleeping Mama Bird is too far away to hear her baby’s cries for help. And poor Baby Bird’s wings are not yet strong enough to fly. What is she to do? Then Baby Bird meets Little Frog. And with a bit of help from her new friend, Baby Bird discovers she can do more than she ever imagined.

Genres: Picture Books, Birds, Animals, Childrens, Fiction, Adventure

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

Frank Asch is an American children's writer, best known for his Moonbear picture books.

Asch published his first picture book, George's Store, in 1968. The following year he graduated from Cooper Union with a BFA. Since then he has taught at a public school in India, as well as at a Montessori school in the United States, conducted numerous creative workshops for children. He has written over 60 books, including Turtle Tale, Mooncake, I Can Blink and Happy Birthday Moon. In 1989 he wrote Here Comes the Cat! in collaboration with Vladimir Vagin. The book was awarded the Russian National Book Award and was considered the first Russian-American collaboration on a children's book.

Asch lived in Somerville, New Jersey where he and his wife home-schooled their son Devin.

He currently lives in Vermont with his wife, Jan.

Reviews

[Carol Royce Owen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great for teaching how to break up hard tasks into smaller, bite-sized pieces. Helping one another.

[Milton Public · Rating 2 out of 5]

Frog saves the day. Or the night. Baby bird doesn't do much except be helpless and fly into a small tree to baffle a (terrifying) hungry raccoon.

The frog climbs the tree to help the bird. The raccoon does not climb the tree to consume the bird.
Darwin is displeased, there are no jokes, and the pictures don't do much.

[Anthony · Rating 4 out of 5]

Baby Bird rolls the wrong way in his sleep, and falls out of his nest. Unable to wake his mother he gets help from a frog who helps Baby Bird build a nest along the banks of the pond. The completion of the nest leads to action, danger, and friendship.

[Library Lady Terri · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the demonstration of the problem solving with Baby Bird and Frog.

[Emily Goodin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a great story about helping out your friends. It could be used on the first day of school about how to help out fellow classmates, even if you are different than them. I love this story!

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

My partner read this book as we prepared the preschoolers for nap. I liked how the frog and the baby bird took care of each other. I was surprised by how casual the mother's reaction was in the morning, I would have freaked out and searched for the baby all night.

[Bridget · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the work of Frank Asch. The pictures and the stories are simple and inviting. Asch's books are ones that you can read over and over again.

[Paula · Rating 2 out of 5]

A simple story but a lot of text for toddlers
When Baby Bird takes a tumble from her mama's nest in the middle of the night, she finds a friend in Little Frog.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute little tale that can readily be a teaching tool about being friendly, helpful and mastering the impossible one step as a time. Cute, simple illustrations.

[Inara · Rating 4 out of 5]

From Inara's mom: So sweet! An excellent example of kindness.