The Real Poop on Pigeons! – Kevin McCloskey

 The Real Poop on Pigeons! – Kevin McCloskey, Toon Books, (9781935179931), 2015

Format: Hardcover

Rating: 1- 5 (5 is excellent or a Starred review) 4

What did you like about the book?  This is a fun and informative book that takes a look at the often maligned pigeon. A gentleman sitting on a park bench complains about pigeons, “They’re RATS with wings!” A multi-ethnic group of children, wearing full pigeon costumes, swoop down to fill him in on a variety of facts about the pigeon. Among these: Pigeons carried the first airmail, can fly faster than cars, nest in old buildings, and mate for life. There are many types of pigeons and the illustrations of the birds are beautifully detailed. We learn that Pablo Picasso was such an admirer of pigeons that he named his daughter Paloma, which is pigeon in Spanish.   The illustrations are painted on “pigeon-blue Fabriano paper” exactly like Picasso used. The majority of the information is presented in comic book style word balloons. The book includes a page of “Tips for Parents and Teachers: How to Read Comics with Kids.” This is a Level 1 Toon Book and presents a lot of information in a fun way.

Anything you didn’t like about it? No

To whom would you recommend this book?   This is a wonderful book for budding naturalists. Readers interested in birds will find lots of information. The comic style makes this a good choice for reluctant readers.

Who should buy this book? Public libraries and elementary school libraries

Where would you shelve it? Non-Fiction (636.5)

Should we (librarians/readers) put this at the top of our “to read” piles? No

Reviewer’s Name, Library (or school), City: Catherine Coyne, Mansfield Public Library, Mansfield, MA

Date of review:  8/3/16