Great Northern Diver: The Loon - Hardcover

Grade 2-4-- The call of the loon will echo long after this book has been closed. Using a picture-book format, Esbensen and Brown record the behavior of a pair of common loons during the summer nesting season. From the opening double-page illustration of a pair of loons sweeping into a panoramic lake landscape, to the final view of an empty snow-covered nest, a sense of place and the rhythms of nature are clearly established. Clear, lively language brings immediacy to the narration; thus, readers will feel personally involved in observing the loons from a lakeshore vantage point, watching them establish territory, perform courtship rituals, build a nest, and raise their chick. Facts about physical characteristics retained from the loon's prehistoric ancestors and explanations of the four types of calls a loon is capable of creating fit smoothly into the text. Brown skillfully combines double-page landscapes with close-up views of the loons throughout the book. The black-and-white patterns of their breeding plumage are clear and crisp, and she captures realistic positions as they dive, fly, and protect their nests. While facts about the loon are available in bird identification guides and reference materials, no one book captures the beauty of this water bird in its serene summer habitat better than this one. --Diane Nunn, Richard E. Byrd Elementary School, Glen Rock, NJ
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.