Birdlore: The Iridescent Life of Florence Merriam Bailey. Written by Jess Keating and illustrated by Devon Holzwarth. Alfred A. Knnopf, Penguin Random House. 2025. $2025. $26.99 ages 4 and up

"Soon she began teaching classes in the renovated 
tavern that belonged to her grandfather. She taught 
her friends about chickadees and warblers, robins 
and ruffed grouse, hermit thrushes and kingfishers.  
Every new bird she met opened another door inside 
her heart."

If you read this blog regularly, you will already know how much I love reading picture book biographies. You will also know I am a huge fan of Jess Keating's work. So, put the two together and this is a book that ups my love for both. 

As a very young girl, Florence loved being out in nature; she especially loved the birds she found there. Her patience for waiting and watching was constant; her joy evident whenever that waiting led to a chance to observe the many birds that lived in the nearby woods. Throughout the seasons, she spent her days enjoying their company. 

At night, she and her mother would find a quiet spot to watch the stars while owls swooped through the moonlight. Nature was her home; birds occupied her thoughts and made her want to spend her life learning more. Following along with her brother, she learned to take notes and preserve the birds they found. Florence was much more interested in studying live birds and learning from them. 

"Florence discovered that her birds all 
had personalities of their very own. 

Some were loud. Some were shy. Some
were even silly! Her birds were a living 
rainbow of sights, sounds, and spirits, 
and Florence took careful notes on 
every detail."

Learning that women wore hats made from bird feathers, she was appalled. How could she bring about change? She decided to do her part to teach others all she knew about birds and the need for their protection. Florence caused quite a stir! Soon enough, she was organizing birdwatching groups. Armed with notebooks, pencils and opera glasses, she led these women into the natural surroundings she so loved and encouraged them to patiently wait and watch as she always had done. It paid off; soon, she was leading more and more people to help them learn about the birds she so loved. 

The only way to spread the word beyond her own community became evident; she would write a field guide that would let anyone interested know what she had learned over a lifetime of observation. This first field guide to American birds (Birds Through an Opera Glass) was published in 1889. 

The story is engaging, the artwork impressive and energetic, and the back matter, which includes an author's note that shares further information about Florence and her work, tips on becoming a birdwatcher, and a final captioned spread of Florence's favorite birds make this an excellent addition to any home, classroom, or public library.