Fact Friday features The Tragic Tale of the Great Auk by Jan Thornhill. This never-too-old-for-picture books picture book is as beautifully written as it is illustrated. For hundreds of thousands of years, these birds thrived in the icy north Atlantic seas. They had relatively few predators and while clumsy and slow on land, they were swift and strong swimmers. Then humans took to the seas, found their nesting places and plundered them. By 1844, this magnificent bird was extinct.
This is a short but compelling read. Readers may be surprised at the emotional reactions they are sure to feel while they learn about this poor species' extinction. Solid science is beautifully embedded in lovely prose. Readers will also linger over the absolutely stunning illustrations.
No comments:
Post a Comment