The Little Book of Woodland Bird Songs

I have been enjoying this board book, and its companion 'The Little Book of Garden Bird Songs', for the last few weeks. Each features 12 species which it covers with a short and engaging paragraph of introductory text, attractive photographs and some interesting facts. In addition, a panel of 12 buttons allows you to match the corresponding photograph and play the song or call of each species. While these books will be useful and interesting to adults who enjoy learning about birds and birdsong, they are also ideal for use with children. I have a three-year-old son and have been trying them out on him. The pages are made of thick card, so resist mauling, and there are various ways in which a child can engage, depending on their age and reading skills. My son seemed to quickly grasp that each species makes a distinctive sound and he's begun to learn the bird names and even some of their calls. With a little bit of creativity it would be straightforward to make a game to reinforce learning. In summary I'd warmly recommend these books as a learning aid for both adults and children. Mastering the 24 species that they introduce would be a giant first stride into the pleasure of bird song and would add another dimension of enjoyment to time in the countryside.

Book reviewed by Ben Darvill