Cooper’s Book Report

This month’s book is The Bird in Santa’s Beard by Jeffery L. Schatzer (with Mark Bush and Don Rutt). Illustrations by Ty Smith.

Santa comes across a little bird who did not fly south for the winter. Cold and alone, the little bird calls out to Santa for help.
Santa offers the bird some warm oatmeal (with cinnamon) and invites her to stay with him for the winter. The two become the best of friends. The little bird even builds a nest in Santa’s beard. One day Santa wakes up to find eggs in the nest.
But Christmas is near and soon Santa will have to visit with the children. How will he be able to meet the children while keeping the eggs safe?

This book was absolutely adorable. Cooper loved it (even though the bird was not a budgie). The photos were lovely and some made Cooper laugh. They captured the friendship between the little bird and Santa. Children often wonder why are there so many different Santas each year. This book provides a wonderful explanation on why Santa has so many helpers.

Cooper’s Book Report

This month’s book is Illumination in the Flatwoods by Joe Hutto.

Naturalist and wildlife artist Joe Hutto expresses an interest in in raising a couple of wild turkeys. He is given two clutches of eggs a tractor driver has come across. He carefully incubates the eggs. When they hatch, Hutto imprints on the birds, raising them and living amongst them as they grow from tiny poults to fully grown adults.

Cooper loved this book. She learned a lot about turkeys from the author’s in-depth study of his days with the flock. From the joys of days spent foraging, to the tragedies of the birds who succumbed to illness or predators, Cooper felt she was on the journey along with Hutto and his turkey family.
Illustrations by the author of the turkeys and the various wildlife they come across are peppered throughout the book.
Illumination in the Flatwoods is a beautiful, entertaining and thoughtful recounting of a man’s oneness with nature. Once you have finished the last page, you will never look at a turkey the same way again.

Cooper’s Book Report

This month’s book is Trick or Treat Parakeet by Lesley Sims.

Parakeet is getting ready for Halloween. She has all sorts of fun activities planned – entering a pumpkin carving contest, decorating Halloween treats and trick or treating. But nothing seems to go as anticipated. Will Parakeet have the Happy Halloween she planned?

Cooper thought this book was absolutely charming. She loved the colorful, whimsical illustrations (by David Semple).
She thought it was wonderful that despite some setbacks, Parakeet rallied and had a fun Halloween with her friends – she even won 1st place in the pumpkin carving contest.
Trick or Treat Parakeet is told using phonics, which is a wonderful way to teach young children how to read. This book also has a QR code so readers are able to hear all about Parakeet’s fun-filled Halloween.

Cooper’s Book Report

This month’s book is Silent Sid by Jessica Parkin and Jennifer Greet.

Aunt Lottie and her friend Asaf buy a little budgie named Sid at the market. Sid is a handsome budgie who loves to fly around the kitchen and have his head scratched. But Sid does not talk.
One morning Lottie decides to make a tea cake featuring Sid’s favorite treat – raisins. When the doorbell rings, Lottie leaves Sid in the kitchen with the bowl of sticky batter. What will happen when Sid is tempted to eat one of the plump raisins?

Cooper loved this little story of Sid, the little green and yellow budgie. She thought the illustrations were colorful and fun.
Cooper enjoyed reading about Sid’s misadventure in the kitchen. She was happy that Sid found his voice and asked for help after falling in the mixing bowl. After she read about Sid’s bath, she wanted one too. She hopes that Sid got a nice, juicy raisin after he was all cleaned up.

Cooper’s Book Report

This month’s book is Barnaby – written by Andrea Curtis and illustrated by Kass Reich.

Barnaby is a little blue budgie who leads a very charmed life. He has a kind lady who dotes on him, has toys to play with and eats sunflower seeds and slices of fresh mango. Barnaby is a happy budgie until his human brings home a little friend for him.
Barnaby is not pleased with the little yellow budgie and when he sees an open window, he takes off.
Will life outdoors suit Barnaby? Will he make friends with the dull colored little birds he meets? Will he be able to find food and water? Or will Barnaby return to his kind lady and new companion?

Cooper loved this book. She thought Barnaby was mischievous and headstrong, handsome and feisty. She enjoyed the beautiful illustrations, and as always, was glad that the book had a happy ending.

Cooper’s Book Report

This month’s book is No Way, Winky Blue! by Pamela Jane with illustrations by G. Brian Karas.

Rosie wants a dog who can do tricks and rescue people from danger, but Aunt Maria says their house is too big for a dog. At the pet store, Rosie and her friend Michael decide a little blue parakeet would make a great pet. After she gets her aunt’s permission and uses most of her allowance, Rosie brings Winky Blue home.
At first, Rosie is enamored with her little bird, doting on him and even making him a little magical playland. But when Winky Blue refuses to talk or do tricks (like carrying messages), she finds him to be a disappointment and throws a cover over his cage.
After a talk with her Aunt Maria and an afternoon to clear her mind, Rosie realizes that she doesn’t need Winky Blue to be a hero or star, and she should enjoy him just the way he is. Rosie races home, excited to see her parakeet only to find she left the cage door and window open. Will Rosie be able to find Winky Blue?

Cooper thought this was a great little book. She liked that Rosie learned to appreciate and love Winky Blue whether he was a “star” or an ordinary parakeet. No Way, Winky Blue! was inspired by the author’s childhood pet, Winky Blue. There are six books in the series, and Cooper is looking forward to reading the further adventures of Rosie and Winky Blue.

Cooper’s Book Report

This month’s book is Enslaved by Ducks by Bob Tarte.

It started with a Rabbit named Binky…
Writer Bob Tarte and his wife Linda move to a house in rural Michigan. Linda talks Bob into getting a rabbit. Before long the couple acquires more rabbits. And geese. And turkeys. And cats. And parrots. And doves. And a starling. And a canary. And budgies. And of course, ducks.
Cooper loved this book about the Tartes, and their ever increasing animal family. She found it to be very funny and sweet, and as with life with animals goes, sad (warning, have some Kleenex handy). Though the title refers to ducks, Cooper thought the real stars of the book were budgies Farley, Rossy, Reggie and Sophie.

She highly recommends this charming book and is looking forward to reading the author’s next book, Fowl Weather.

Cooper’s Book Report

This month’s book is Goodnight, Little Bird, written and illustrated by Julia Carvalho.

In this book, the author tells a sweet cockatiel all the reasons why it is loved before bedtime. Being silly, being kind and being brave are some of the ways in which the tiel is adored. All the reasons can be applied little humans as well when you tuck them into bed.
*This book is religious (Jesus, bible quote and prayers)

Cooper’s Book Report

This month’s book is Pretty Perilous Parakeet by L.G. Cunningham.

Archie, who wants to be a zookeeper, loves animals. He has many pets that he keeps in the garage (his mother will not allow them in the house). One day, he and his family take a drive out to a creepy animal sanctuary. His sister Sophia decides she wants to bring home a little yellow parakeet, and that’s when the trouble starts.

Archie is wary of the new bird. His suspicion that something is off is realized when the parakeet swallows Trevor the snake. After the bird causes trouble at school, brother and sister decide to return the parakeet to the sanctuary. Will Archie and Sophia be able to rid themselves of the tiny yellow fiend? Or will they become the next victims or the pretty, perilous parakeet?

Cooper liked that, evil or not, the parakeet was the star of the show. She was not thrilled that Archie and his family kept the parakeet by itself in a garage under a cover all day. She did not like it when Sophia threw Lizzie the lizard, either. Archie and his family need to learn how to take better care of their pets. Cooper was definitely #teamparakeet.
Other than the treatment of the animals, Cooper thought that children will enjoy this spooky tale where a brother and sister learn to work together to solve their problems.

Cooper’s Book Report

This month’s book is Your First Budgie Art by Enrique Videla.

It’s Debbie’s birthday, and her present is a bird cage – soon to be the home to her brand new budgie. At the pet store, she picks out her new pet – a blue budgie she names Charlie. The pet store owner gives her advice on how to care for the newest member of the family.

Cooper enjoyed the comic book style of the story. She thought it was a fun way to teach humans about how to properly care for a budgie. The book was published in the 80s, so some of the information is a bit out of date (providing gravel), but it has some good tips for first time bird owners.
Cooper would like to thank friends Kelle and John for sending this book. XOXO