The Little Book of Garden Bird Songs

There seem to be few garden bird books available for very young children, so when this board book came along targeted at age 3 and above I was intrigued to see what it had to offer. It covers 12 garden bird species that most people will encounter in their garden including Great Tit, Greenfinch and Carrion Crow. Each bird has a double page with illustrations and facts including where they are found, what they eat, where they nest and a ‘Did you know’. Down the side of the book are sound buttons corresponding to each species’ song, operated by battery, and consisting of good quality recordings.

This is a book that, in fact, could appeal to all ages. The pictures and sounds are great for a young child to learn from, and the facts and descriptions will engage older children. It would also be suitable as a basic book for adults wanting to learn more about gardens birds, giving them the ability to start understanding basic birdsong, or even better – a good opportunity for an adult to spend time with a child, learning together.

Book reviewed by Clare Simm