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32 pp.
| Carolrhoda
| April, 2019
|
TradeISBN 978-1-5124-9787-8$17.99
|
EbookISBN 978-1-5415-4182-5
(3)
K-3
An unseen narrator insists that, like chameleons, ostriches are "experts at blending into their surroundings." Refuting this are illustrations showing an ostrich overtaking a birdbath ("Hard to find, right?"), plainly visible under a lampshade ("An ostrich could be in your house right now, and you would never know it"), and otherwise supplying visual evidence that this book is agreeably silly.
32 pp.
| Holt
| March, 2018
|
TradeISBN 978-1-250-12686-3$17.99
(2)
PS
The overeager giraffes from How Do You Say? / ¿Cómo se dice? are back in this high-energy bilingual book. They try to guess what an ostrich is feeling: "Are you hungry? / ¿Tienes hambre?" "Annoyed? / ¿Irritada?" Finally, the ostrich announces: "I'm excited...because I have new amigos!" Pencil and tissue-paper illustrations emphasize goofy expressions and antics while letting boldly colored text pop against clean white backgrounds.
(4)
K-3
Amazing Animals series.
Vivid photographs providing up-close views of the daily lives and behaviors of peacocks and ostriches are the highlight of these slim volumes. Minimal texts touch on habitat, appearance, diet, and offspring, and each book supplies a folk-story answer to a question about the creature (e.g., "Why are peacocks so colorful? People in Asia told a story about this..."). Also available in Spanish. Reading list, websites. Ind. Review covers these Amazing Animals titles: Peacocks and Ostriches.
(2)
4-6
Pursued by nefarious individuals, a young emperor, a milkmaid, and a determinedly chivalrous young man (along with a cow and an eight-foot-tall ostrich) reluctantly join forces and carom from one suspenseful adventure to the next. In this rollicking entertainment of magic, wit, hidden identities, and determination, Berry hits all the right notes to please fairy tale–loving readers--and, of course, there are happy endings for all.
Reviewer: Monica Edinger
| Horn Book Magazine Issue:
July, 2017
(4)
4-6
Living Wild series.
Eye-catching close-up photographs enliven these informative texts, focusing on one animal per volume. Appearance, habitat, diet, behavior, conservation efforts, and presence in human culture are all addressed in great detail, while sidebars provide additional information. Although lengthy chapters and the absence of a table of contents make quick reference difficult, thorough indexing helps mitigate this drawback. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Living Wild titles: Ostriches and Peacocks.
(3)
K-3
Super Species series.
Simple text, a few sentences per page at most, gives basics on this bird's size, body, and eggs and chicks, often using comparisons to aid comprehension. The clean layouts include copious white space surrounding the text on the verso and one large, clear photo on the recto of each inviting spread. Additional facts are appended. Glos., ind.
32 pp.
| Lerner
| April, 2016
|
LibraryISBN 978-1-4677-9509-8$26.65
|
PaperISBN 978-1-4677-9633-0$8.99
|
EbookISBN 978-1-4677-9634-7
(4)
K-3
Comparing Animal Traits series.
Each presentation covers appearance, habitat, skills, and traits for its subject while also comparing and contrasting the focal animal with other birds by text, photos, and charts. Some comparisons are natural, some surprisingly revealing; however, others--such as ruby-throated hummingbirds and Adélie penguins--feel random, without relevant comparative features. There are four other spring 2016 books in this series. Reading list, websites. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Comparing Animal Traits titles: Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds, Snowy Owls, Ostriches, and Toco Toucans.
(4)
K-3
Whose Little Baby Are You? series.
Descriptions of the habitat and physical appearance of an unnamed chick and a question--"Who does this little baby belong to?"--begin these books about ostriches and cockatiels. Straightforward text explains family, diet, and growth, while large, close-up photos (all clearly labeled but some with odd graphics added) lend immediacy. "Fact file" and habitat map appended. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers the following Whose Little Baby are You? titles: A Giant Egg and Fluffy Feathers and A Tiny Beak and Spiky Feathers.
32 pp.
| Boyds
| September, 2012
|
TradeISBN 978-1-59078-702-1$16.95
(4)
K-3
Illustrated by
San Artists of the Kuru.
Ostrich stays silent while his friend the lark sings; one day, Ostrich finally finds his booming voice. This vividly told story, written with the rhythms of a folktale, is illustrated by a group of artists from Botswana. Although it is never clear why or how Ostrich finds his voice, the striking folk paintings filled with flora and fauna make a strong impression.
32 pp.
| Lerner
| February, 2012
|
LibraryISBN 978-0-7613-6741-3$25.26
(4)
K-3
Lightning Bolt Books: Animal Look-Alikes series.
Numerous close-up and annotated photographs point out the many differences between the two largest species of birds on earth, in various categories such as habitat, physiology, and reproductive habits. Although the layout is colorful, it's a little busy, but nature fans won't mind. Reading list. Glos., ind.
24 pp.
| Heinemann
| January, 2011
|
LibraryISBN 978-1-4329-4730-9$22.00
(4)
K-3
Day in the Life: Grassland Animals series.
Spilsbury provides a glimpse into the daily life of ostriches. Information is presented in an accessible way, with large-type text, a useful map, and colorful photos. The facts are selective, but the leveled-reader volume could be used as a broad introduction to the behaviors and natural environment of this creature that most children won't see outside of a zoo. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.
(3)
K-3
Brand New Readers series.
Following short introductions (to be read by adults), these four brief stories describe the adventures of industrious and creative Termite. As with the other books in the series, the simple, uncluttered illustrations help support the amusing, easy-to-read texts.
24 pp.
| Bearport
| January, 2007
|
LibraryISBN 978-1-59716-394-1$21.28
(4)
K-3
SuperSized! series.
A straightforward text, stock photos, and maps introduce the habitat, diet, physical features, life cycle, and behavior of the world's largest (Ostrich) and heaviest (Bustard) birds. Simple comparisons (e.g., "A male great bustard weighs about the same as a bulldog") overcome some vagueness ("Today, people are working to protect these big, flying birds") to present very basic information. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these SuperSized! titles: Great Bustard and Ostrich.
48 pp.
| Chronicle
| May, 2004
|
TradeISBN 0-8118-3615-0$$15.95
(3)
K-3
Illustrated by
David Slonim.
In "Feeling Better," bossy ostrich Emily thinks she cures elephant Albert of a malady he doesn't tell her he never had. In "A Good Book," Emily makes her presence instrumental to Albert's reading pleasure. As in Marshall's George and Martha books, all five stories collected here are ultimately about friendship, and Slonim's loose, whimsical illustrations further flesh out Ormerod's deft characterizations.
(4)
PS
Zoo Animals series.
Each book in this series contains nine two-page chapters ("What Do Flamingos Look Like?" "How Do Ostriches Sleep?") made up of short, declarative sentences that answer the questions posed by each chapter's title. Because the information is disseminated as stray (if interesting) facts versus in paragraph format, the texts have a disjointed quality, but the close-up color photos should be enough to secure readers' attention. Glos., ind. [Review covers these Zoo Animals titles: Flamingo and Ostrich.]