Poetry Friday Roundup is hosted today by Great Kid Books.
In honor of National Bird Feeding Month, my selection is "The Cuckoo's Haiku and other birding poems" written by Michael J. Rosen and illustrated by Stan Fellows.
Beautiful verses are paired with exquisite watercolors in a book styled like a birder's notebook with entries on a lovely variety of birds common to different regions. The majestic Canada Goose, the delicate Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Barred Owl, Great Blue Heron, Mockingbird, and Wild Turkey are only a few of the feathered creatures high-lighted. Each double page spread is graced by Rosen's insightful verse and hand-written birder's notes describing the bird, its habits, and calls. Fellows' glowing illustrations portray each bird in its natural setting strengthening the impression that the paintings were done in field.
"Above gold jonquils / feeding finches stacked like coins / April's alchemy" -- is Rosen's lyrical portrayal of the Goldfinch. Fellows clusters the brilliant yellow birds on a feeder. Rosen's End Notes add that: Some people call them "wild canaries" because their yellow is as intense as a tropical canary's.
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