Undercover Birds

November 15, 2022
Viewed through die-cut holes in the cover and inside, 11 different birds, common and otherwise, flit or pose for close-ups. Cassany provides nature notes and appreciative comments, but P�rez Herrero's big, dramatically colored illustrations are the main show. Behind full-bleed screens of flowers or foliage with irregular gaps snipped out, viewers can glimpse bits of plumage or beady avian eyes, then turn the pages to reveal full-body portraits--mostly in ensemble views to show off shapes and coloring from different angles. Once the pierced leaf is turned, the holes usually show only random, disconnected chunks of the previous pages, so the gimmick isn't very well engineered, nor have more than fitful efforts been made to actually link the visuals with the narratives as, for example, cardinals flock together in a scene that contradicts its title of "Pretty Territorial," and the rock hen, though described as mountain-dwelling and prone to hiding in rocky outcrops, is posed in a lush tropical setting. Still, bird lovers or budding naturalists in general will enjoy poring over the art, with its dignified, inscrutable, naturally posed subjects. An eye-filling gallery, perfunctory gimmick notwithstanding. (Informational picture book. 6-8)

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