The Triumphant Tale of the House Sparrow, by Jan Thornhill. Groundwood Books, 2018. $18.95 ages 10 and up

"Pros and cons began appearing in newspapers across the land. Name calling began. The House Sparrow was called a villain, a cuss, a disreputable character, a glutton and a parasite. It was impudent, insolent, irascible, irritable, intolerable and lazy. It even caused fires? In Pittsburgh, it lined its nests with fluff from the cotton mill that ignited ... "

Jan Thornhill has written another stunning nonfiction book about birds. Her story of the house sparrow is a notable companion to 2016's The Tragic Tale of the Great Auk. In talking with those who have shared the auk's story in classrooms, I am told their students feel it reads like the best of stories.

This narrative text that tells the history of the house sparrow is written with the same results. Reading it is a joy! I see them every day, and have never once wondered about the house sparrow and its history of adaptability. By the time I finished reading this remarkable book, I was in awe, once again, of Ms. Thornhill's capacity to tell a grand story after doing plentiful research - and make it both
meaningful and memorable.

For thousands of years, the house sparrow has flourished in an ever-changing world. It's ability to adapt is quite the remarkable tale. Ms. Thornhill tells it with respect and wonder. Dating back 12,000 years, she writes that the sparrow has charted its course in the company of humans, managing to find the food and shelter needed. Although there have been times when its numbers decreased due to improved farming practises, the sparrow has always proven its ability to adapt and prosper. Quite remarkable!

 Despite numerous attempts to lessen its numbers, it has always made a resurgence and today remains a presence in our lives, and the lives of people around the world. Written chronologically and conversational in tone, our connection to this tiny bird is made clear to us.

There is also some sad news:

"In North America, House Sparrow numbers have dropped
so much in some communities that it has become hard to find.
But - unlike in Europe and India - in North America, no
alarm has been sounded. The plight of the polar bear - an
animal that few have seen in the wild - is constantly in the
news. But a sudden crash in population of a bird that is so
common you hardly even notice it? No one seems to care."

Her accurate and appealing digital artwork is perfectly placed on pages of text, showing the birds throughout history and in many interesting and engaging circumstances. Detailed, textured and realistic, they are sure to garner much attention.

In final pages, Ms. Thornhill includes a world map showing where sparrows originated and how they spread, an illustrated life cycle, a brief glossary of terms introduced in the text, and a list of resources and references.

I found it very interesting to read a section there titled Wild Animals That Choose To Live With Us. Sparrows are not the only animals who have made the adaptations necessary to live among us. Life is easier for them when they can find shelter, protection and food. A pretty extensive list is provided and the author advises that we might look to our own environments and find as many as we can - and then take the time to learn as much as we can about them. What an idea!