Birds of a Feather: Bowerbirds and Me
The author, a collage artist, compares her work to that of a bowerbird in this unique exploration of the creative process. As defined on the half-title page, male bowerbirds attract a female counterpart by building elaborate, twig-and-grass structures “adorned with bright-colored objects such as feathers, bones, shells, glass, and plastic.” Illustrator Roth collects and uses similar objects in her own work, using (beak-shaped) tweezers to carefully place each small piece, although her purpose is not to attract a mate but “to tell a story.” Both artist and bird are thoughtful, deliberate creators whose “finished works are much greater than the sum of their parts.” Additional facts about bowerbirds and the structures they build, along with greater insight into Roth’s collage making, are included in the back of this book that illuminates the creative processes of two otherwise very different creatures. ©2020 Cooperative Children’s Book Center
Illustrated by Susan L. Roth
CCBC Age Recommendation: Ages 4-7
Age Range:
PreK-Early Elementary (Ages 4-7)
Formats:
Biography, Autobiography and Memoir
Picture book
Subjects:
Art and Artists
Birds (Informational)
Comparisons
Creativity
Publishers:
Holiday House, Neal Porter Books
Publish Year: 2019
Pages: 32
ISBN: 9780823442829
CCBC Location: Non-Fiction, 709 Roth