Papa delivers a snake
Belly full, she preens.
Mama lays an egg
In the starlight it glistens
A moon of its own.
Today there are three
Papa hunts and Mama broods
Wind whips; eggs are warm."
When I was presenting poetry workshops in schools, I was always surprised at how easy teachers thought it was for their students to write haiku poems. It is not. There are many rules to writing such a poem, not the least of which is that science is often the impetus for its theme.
Choosing the right words is a gift, and Maria Gianferrari rises to the occasion in this poetic tribute to the most common of North American owls: the great horned one. The author has an admitted penchant for raptors, and she shares her knowledge and admiration in this brilliant new book. Having Jonathan Voss join her as collaborator makes for a pretty perfect picture book. He uses sepia ink and watercolors, with color added digitally, to provide a stunning look at the life cycle of this proud and fearless predator.
Readers watch as the two mates choose a squirrel's nest for their new home. Mama lays three eggs, loses one when crows attack, and the two nuture the other owlets that do hatch. The words chosen for describing this rearing of their young allows readers a close look at the nature of the bird itself, and the threats to bringing the babies to independence and a home of their own.
The stunning images of these imposing birds bring nature and its tensions to fully realized life. The dark of the forest and the light of the moon are always evident. Occasional panels are inset in the double-page spreads to accentuate drama.
End notes offer further facts and suggest worthwhile resources to show readers just how unique and fascinating these raptors are.
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