"So what do our
smart chicks do when
danger nears?
Tell me! Tell me!
Tell me!
They fall into
the river."
Do you know what a hoatzin is? I did not; now, I surely do.
This hoatzin is its own informant in this playful picture book, filled with brilliant color and very interesting facts. First it is a bird, just like any other bird. It lives only in the Amazon rainforest, and it has an 'amazing superpower' that makes it different from all other birds.
Very quickly, the reader meets its tiny nestling. Together, they share the traits that make it so cool. It does take a while before the parent reveals the real superpower. While it does have a very poopy smell, a loud song, hazardous nest placement, chicks that are able to swim, none of these things are considered the superpower. The parent bird wants readers to know everything that is special about it before the big reveal.
Upbeat and humorous, the birds' conversation will certainly keep readers engaged and wanting to move forward. The chick's anxiety over what its father is telling him, and its pride in learning what makes him special ... 'only hoatzin chicks can climb like little acrobats' is heartwarming. They are born with claws on their wings!
The bright colors, effective compositions, and tropical setting are sure to keep young readers invested in what is being said between the two birds. I've read that this is the beginning of a new series of books about animals by this team. It's a promising opener. A true or false page is appended in back matter, much to the reader's delight.
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