Title: Crazy Bird Stories
Subtitle: Prepare yourself for Strange Birds Behaving in Strange Ways
Author: Daryl Barnes
Illustrated by: Stephen Adams
Publisher: PageTurner, Press and Media LLC
ISBN: 978-1-64376-634-8
Genre: Illustrated Children’s Book / Bird Education
Pages: 34
Reviewed by: Barbara Miller
Hollywood Book Reviews
Crazy Bird Stories by author Daryl Barnes is dichotomized into two separate and distinct formats. The first is a fanciful reveal of cartoonish bird drawings in totally silly situations, captioned by a rhyming prose of exciting story text. Then, it morphs into an Audubon Bird Society’s type book showing actual photographs of each of the species mentioned in the first section, along with a paragraph of the unique characteristics of that particular type of bird. By combining both of these genres into one book, it provides a penetrating story to youngsters with imaginary fantasy along with the credible authenticity of the latter section. The result is to heighten the curiosity of these remarkable types of birds to the youngsters’ minds and, I believe, lay a foundation for further learning about these and other unique fowl.
For example, the first bird is titled a Lunatic Lorikeet, which, “after having too much to eat, of rich foods that were sweet, would fall over in the street.” Shown in the illustration is a brightly colored and detailed bird – stepping out of a saloon’s swinging doors, along with a jar of nectar which is the “sweet” aspect of the bird’s dietary over-consumption. Then, in the second part of the book it is shown the Lorikeet, known also as Rainbow Lorikeet, can become disoriented and act as if they are drunk when they eat too much nectar. This “one/fantasy – then – two/reality approach” is absolutely a brilliant way to introduce to children the world of birds. Yes, birds are silly and crazy.
The paring of make-believe and then reality-check continues with other birds including: crows which are loud; Crakes known for their nesting; a nocturnal Nightjar; the Australian Spoonbill which moves its beak back and forth to penetrate the tall grasslands; a Cockatoo with its loud calls; and others. The book provides just the right amount of information not to overwhelm the children, and given the methodology of displaying the information in two different ways will undoubtably form memory patterns in the minds of the readers.
Given Crazy Bird Stories having these various elements of fact and fiction, along with very artful and creative illustrations, a catchy-rhyming text, and of course the recap at the end, this book stands out within the genre as being an excellent book for all family libraries. Whether you live in Australia where many of these birds call home, or not, this book will bring home to children these unique qualities of birds when reading Crazy Bird Stories.