Cooper’s Book Report

Posted on March 19, 2017 by Michelle M.

This month’s book is Extraordinary Chickens by Stephen Green-Armytage.

In honor of National Poultry Day, Cooper is reviewing Extraordinary Chickens. This is a book that showcases the beauty and amazing variety of the exotic chicken. There is some background on the bird and how the different strains came to be. There are also notes on the ornamental breeds featured in the book. But the beautiful photographs are the star of the show.

Cooper had no idea there were so many types of chickens. Her favorites were the big fluffy birds. She also loved the gorgeous feather patterns of some of the chickens and the photos of the chicks. She highly recommends this book to bird lovers. It would make a great coffee table book and/or gift.Cooper thinks that chickens are indeed extraordinary. She also thinks that Extraordinary Budgies should be the author’s next book.

Cooper’s Book Report

Posted on January 27, 2017 by Michelle M.

This month’s book is The Budgie Said Grrrr! by Martin Waddell and Glenys Ambrus.Bill buys a little blue budgie at the bird shop. But the little budgie does not like bird seed. Grrrr! So it eats its bell, its mirror and its bird bath. Soon the budgie is getting bigger. Bill buys the budgie a bigger cage. Grrrr! The budgie eats a hat, PE gear, and a spare tire and gets even bigger. Soon it is so big that the budgie puts Bill, his mum and his dad in a huge budgie cage. Finally, Bill’s Mum makes the budgie something “good to eat”. Apple fruit cake, shortbread, chips, etc. seem to do the trick and Bill, his mum, his dad and the budgie live happily ever after. Cooper thought this story was a little odd. How can a budgie not like bird seed? She loved the illustrations and thought a budgie locking its people in a cage was hilarious. She was glad the budgie didn’t eat the postman. After eating the post man’s parcels and letters she was worried that he might be next. Cooper also thinks that feeding your budgie ice cream, cake, toffee apples, strawberry jelly, chips, sausages, hamburgers, honey buns and chocolate mousse is a very bad idea. Budgies should stick to fruits and vegetables, no matter how big they become.

Cooper’s Book Report

Posted on October 19, 2016 by Michelle M.

This month’s book is Feathers for Lunch by Lois Ehlert.In Feathers for Lunch, a cat slips out the door and goes on the prowl for a birdie lunch. Luckily, the bell on the cat’s collar warns the birds that danger is near.Cooper thought this book was a bit scary. But she was glad all the birds were able to fly away safely in the end.She liked the colorful illustrations. She thought the guide at the end of the book was a good way for young readers to learn about the different types of birds that might appear in their neighborhoods.

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Cooper’s Book Report

Posted on August 11, 2016 by Michelle M.

This month’s book is the bestseller, The Hen Who Dreamed She Could Fly by Sun-mi Hwang.Sprout is a caged hen whose dream is to live with the free range chickens and hatch one of her eggs. When she can no longer lay, the farmer and his wife decide to cull Sprout from the flock. Sprout manages to escape, but is shunned by the other farm animals.
The little hen ends up raising a chick (though not her own) and faces many challenges living life in the wild.

Cooper loved this little gem of a book. She admired Sprout for her bravery and for not giving up even when the odds were against her. She thought the book was touching, and while she teared up on occasion, she would highly recommend this wonderful story of acceptance, love and sacrifice.

Cooper’s Book Report

Posted on July 25, 2016 by Michelle M.

This month’s book is Beaky’s Guide to Caring for Your Birds by Isabel Thomas.Cooper thinks this is a great book for anyone considering a bird as a pet. It has information on choosing and cleaning a cage, what to feed (and not feed) your bird, handling your pet, etc. The book is filled with cute illustrations (by Rick Peterson) and photos. Some of the photos are by Cooper’s friend Karon Dubke. Cooper was excited to see Karon’s budgies, Bert and Ernie, in the book. She also liked that the book states that animal shelters and rescues are the best places to get new pets. Cooper agrees with the author that budgies need lots of toys – and that you don’t need to wait for your bird’s birthday to buy new ones!

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Cooper’s Book Report

Posted on June 21, 2016 by Michelle M.

This month’s book is Birdology by Sy Montgomery.In Birdology, author and naturalist Sy Montgomery shines a light on the bird world. The book is divided into segments: chickens, cassowaries, hummingbirds, hawks, pigeons, parrots and crows. Montgomery combines science and storytelling in a way that makes for an entertaining read. Birdology not only shows us what fascinating creatures birds are, but reminds us how important they are to our world.

Cooper loved this book. She thought the author accurately portrayed the emotions, intelligence and abilities of her feathered friends. Her favorite part of the book was Montgomery’s green budgie, Jerry. He makes an appearance in the introduction. “Among the many things he showed me was that birds stir our souls in ways that change our lives.” Cooper thinks the author should have included a chapter about budgies. But maybe it would have been too difficult to cram the wonder of budgies into just one chapter. Surely, it would take an entire book for that. Budgieology…

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Cooper’s Book Report

Posted on May 21, 2016 by Michelle M.

This month’s book is Honey the Hero: A Bird Brain Book, by Emlyn Chand.Honey is a little green budgie who lives in the Australian Outback. One day she peers through a house window and sees a superhero performing heroic actions on television. This inspires Honey to become a superhero herself. Unfortunately her attempts to assist other animals in the outback backfire. On the verge of giving up, a baby dingo needs help. Will Honey rise to the occasion?

Cooper thought this was a cute book. She approved of the large, colorful illustrations (by Sarah Shaw). Even though Honey was just a tiny budgie, she was able to make a difference. This, along with Honey’s perseverance was a great message for old and young alike.

Cooper’s Book Report

Posted on April 27, 2016 by Michelle M.

This month’s book is How to Heal a Broken Wing by Bob Graham.On a busy city street, only Will notices a wounded pigeon on the ground. He and his mother pick it up and take it home. Will, his mother and father gently wrap the bird’s broken wing. With the family’s tender care, the days pass and the pigeon heals.Cooper loved this simple, yet powerful story. She wishes more people were like Will. She thought the illustrations were beautiful and did a wonderful job rounding out the spare text. Her favorite part of the book was when the pigeon was released back in to the wild. And she thought the bird poop on the city statues was amusing.
Cooper highly recommends this book – it’s message of being aware and caring for nature is good for young and old alike.

Cooper’s Book Report

Posted on March 30, 2016 by Michelle M.

This month’s book is The Parrot Who Owns Me, by Joanna Burger.This book tells of the relationship between Tico, a red-lored Amazon parrot and ornithologist Joanna Burger, who adopts him. Tico comes to live with Burger after his previous owners pass away. He gradually warms to his new owner and even begins to court her.

Cooper loved this book. She enjoyed reading about bird behavior – both Tiko’s and that of the birds that Burger studied in the field. Tiko likes to slide down a banister, which Cooper would love to do. Except we don’t have stairs. Sorry, Cooper. She was a bit alarmed that Tico was fed chocolate (toxic to birds), but that is addressed in a warning at the end of the book. Cooper thinks that Burger’s first parrot, Lucinda (a blue and yellow budgie) should have been the star of The Parrot Who Owns Me. But overall, Cooper recommends this tale of the strong bond that forms between a parrot and his human.

Cooper’s Book Report

Posted on February 11, 2016 by Michelle M.

This month’s book is Together Again: The Life and Travels of Carlos and Angelina by George Griffith.This is the story of two bonded budgies and the adventures they have when they become separated. The book opens in 1935, when elderly Myrtle leaves a window open and Carlos and Angelina fly away. They are captured by a pet shop owner and put up for sale. Unfortunately, Carlos is soon sold, and Angelina is left behind. Louisiana, Maine, San Francisco and Hawaii are some of the states that the budgies visit as they escape or are given away. Thirteen years later, they manage to reunite – but very briefly. They sing together and gaze at a double rainbow and then Carlos passes away.

Cooper loves to read about budgies. She was a little confused when Leo the African Grey Parrot became Leo the green parakeet two pages later. And she would have liked the focus to stay on the budgies (the book also includes historical anecdotes and the story of two humans, who are separated and reunited). Cooper was very sad that the budgie pair was separated, but happy that they managed to spend a few moments together at the end of the book.