Light As A Feather: Fifteen Phenomenal North American Birds, written and illustrated by Will HIllenbrand. Holiday House, Penguin Random House, 2026. $26.99 ages 4 and up

 

"Brown Pelicans catch a lot of water
along with their prey. They tip their 
bills downward to drain the water 
before swallowing the fish. A Brown 
Pelican's gular pouch can hold up
to three gallons of water, three times
the bird's total weight. They also use 
their pouch to carry food for their 
young."

Young readers will be surprised to see the front endpaper which tells them that 'the birds presented here are in scale to each other'. Someone is sure to ask what that means, and you will be able to tell them that even though the birds are not their real size, the illustration shows what they would look like if they were next to each other in nature. What a concept! 

Surely, they will want to get right at the reading to see what facts Will Hillenbrand has to offer. To that end, he begins with the Northern Cardinal. Each introductory side of the book's double-page spreads provides the bird's measurements (length, weight, and wingspan). At the bottom of that page, their range is described. The facing page presents further information that is particular to the featured bird. For instance, in telling more about the cardinal, the author answers a question about why feathers are so light, while also describing a bird's molt cycle. In small print, he also adds something of note about the cardinal itself. 

In a similar style, he goes on to tell his readers about fourteen other North American birds that may or may not be familiar to his audience. In each case, he adds accessible and pertinent facts that make the reading memorable and worthy of sharing. The subjects for research are feathers, drumming sounds, bill shape, flight, color, intelligence, science tagging, color change, nest building, injuries and care, a pelican's pouch, food, silent hunting, and bird sounds. 

Collage artwork is inspiring and as gorgeous as one would expect if you are a fan of Mr. Hillenbrand's work. Colorful and brilliant, the illustrations warrant careful observation and repeated visits. In back matter, he includes words about his illustrations, an author's note, and a list of online resources that readers are sure to find helpful and valuable for further study. Finally, an index will help anyone wanting to return to a certain bit of information.