Baby Bird's First Nest - Hardcover

Asch, Frank

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0152017267 ISBN 13: 9780152017262

Publisher: Harcourt Childrens Books, 1999

Synopsis

After accidentally falling out of her nest in the middle of the night, and being too far away to alert her mother, Baby Bird befriends Little Frog and learns that she's not too young to be self-reliant. 15,000 first printing.

About this title

About the Author

FRANK ASCH has written and illustrated more than sixty books for children, including the popular Good Night, Baby Bear. He lives in Vermont.

Reviews

PreSchool-Grade 2A satisfying read-aloud with just enough adventure, wit, and common sense to engage listeners and vocabulary easy enough for beginning readers. When Baby Bird falls out of her nest, Little Frog leaps to the rescue. The bird rejects his offer of a moonlit swim but accepts his help building a place to sleep for the night. The two complete a handsome nest just as a hungry raccoon arrives, sending frog to water and bird onto a tree branch. Though too young to fly, the fledgling discovers that she can hop rather well when sufficiently motivated. When the danger passes, Little Frog shows her how to utilize her newfound skill to get back to her mamas nest. Friendship, industry, and courage are the themes woven throughout. Aschs trademark pen-and-ink drawings have been colorized in Adobe Photoshop. The technique is very effective with deep, rich color fading to lighter shades when the moonlight glows or a firefly flutters. Another gem for Aschs many fans to treasure and a treat for the uninitiated.Jody McCoy, The Bush School, Seattle, WA
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

In Asch's (the Baby Bear books) latest picture book, Baby Bird falls out of her mother's nest one night and manages to return with the help of new friend Little Frog. The nest of the title refers to a new one that the two pals build together; it is almost immediately abandoned, but it helps Baby Bird get her first taste of independence. It also sets the stage for her later escape from a raccoon, as she hops to a tree branch, just out of the raccoon's reach. From there, Little Frog coaches her, by example, to make her way to her mother's nest ("Take it one hop at a time," he says). Asch's illustrations, done in pen and ink and then computer-colored, are skillfully done and infused with moonlight; they resemble intricate sun-catchers. The frog is a charmer, with expressive gestures and a bubble-gum-pink tongue; and a menacing close-up of the raccoon gives way to a pleasing image of Baby Bird hovering safely above the villain. A slim but reassuring tale for toddlers just beginning to strike out on their own. Ages 2-5. (May)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Edition details

• Publisher: Harcourt Childrens Books
• Publication date: 1999
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0152017267
• ISBN 13: 9780152017262
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 32