Tiny Bird: A Hummingbird's Amazing Journey, written by Robert Burleigh and illustrated by Wendell Minor. Henry Holt and Company, Macmillan. Raincoast. 2020. $25.99 ages 6 and up

"Flower to flower,
backward, forward, under, over,
like an acrobat of the air!

Radiant green feathers glimmering, ruby throat shimmering,
Tiny Bird delicately dips its beak into the heart of each flower, extracting precious nectar.

The endpapers are a delightful invitation to readers of all ages to learn about the hummingbird in this tale of one bird's remarkable journey ... one that is taken every year as these tiny, brilliantly-colored birds migrate 1500 miles from the northeastern United States to their winter home in Mexico. Captioned images provide data comparing its tiny size to familiar objects, and a map that plots that migratory feat.

First spreads are given to its preparation for what is to come. Its whirring wings, acrobatic moves from flower to flower, and its need to feed is captured in beautiful close-up images created in gouache watercolors. Autumn is just around the corner, and the bird is feeling the pull that marks the beginning of its long, solitary journey. It will not be easy. Many obstacles will stand in its way, as they will for all other hummingbirds heading for a warmer climate.

It fuels itself with nectar and insects while also doing its very best maneuvering to keep out of the reaches of its predators - a hawk first and then the Gulf of Mexico, a non-stop flight from one side to the other of more than twenty hours. Keeping close to the water's surface provides protection from the winds, while also putting it very close to leaping fish. Then, a sudden storm adds danger and results in exhaustion.

"Slower. Slower.
Tiny Bird begins to falter.
Its wings grow heavy as it dips
ever closer to the dangerous water."

It finds reprieve on fishing boat, and the strength to go on. Worn out and thin from lack of food, it finally arrives at its destination. There's food and comfort in this winter home. In the spring, it will make an equally arduous return trip. What wonder is that?

The final two pages are given to Fun Facts About Hummingbirds and How To Become a Member of the Hummingbird Helper Club, as well as a suggestion from Mr. Burleigh.

"The author especially recommends one online source that contains well-organized information about hummingbirds: worldofhummingbirds.com. The site is divided into many small and easy-to-understand sections that cover every aspect of hummingbird life."