Mighty Birders: Books, Toys, and Clothing for Mighty Girl Bird Lovers

Birds come in all different shapes, sizes, and yes, colors, too! Leap into the colorful world of birds with this appealing board book that uses different bird species to teach babies and toddlers about colors. Phyllis Limbacher Tildes provides accurate and elegant illustrations of various bird species, from the eastern bluebird and blue jay to the scarlet tanager and northern cardinal, each in their natural habitat. On each spread, you'll find the color word, as well as the names of the bird species, flowers, fruits, and more. It's a celebration of the colors of nature and the beauty of birds.

Flora and the Flamingo

The little girl in this wordless picture book has a remarkable interaction with a flamingo! Flora's slightly awkward attempts to imitate the graceful flamingo irritate the bird, who squawks angrily, leaving Flora sulking and upset. Fortunately, friendship triumphs in the end as the flamingo urges her to join their dance again — with a grand finale of a cannonball into the pool! Interactive flaps make this book a fun and creative option for story time. For more books featuring Flora and various avian friends, check out Flora and the Penguin, Flora and the Peacocks, and the board book Flora and the Ostrich: An Opposites Book.

The Light in Me Sees the Light in You

When Robin meets a small red bird she calls Poppy, something amazing happens: each of them recognizes "the light" within the other, connecting them even though they are so different. Instant friends, the pair watch clouds, climb trees, and even share snacks. And then, suddenly, Poppy is gone, leaving Robin with only a feather and memories. When Poppy visits in her dreams, though, Robin magically takes flight alongside her, which provides a lasting reminder that "the light in you will always be part of the light in me." This gentle, metaphorical book about a special relationship with a bird is a reassuring look at friendship and loss. For another book about a grieving bird-loving girl, we recommend Helen's Birds for ages 6 to 8.

Bird Count

Ava loves joining her fellow "citizen scientists" in the annual New England Christmas Bird Count: together, they identify and count all the birds they see. This year, the team's leader, Big Al, even invites Ava to record the tally! Carefully, Ava observes the birds around her — their appearance, their behaviour, and their songs — and applies the birding ID techniques she knows so that she can count each bird along their route. And at the end of the day, there's a Christmas Bird Count party! Exquisite illustrations of birds and tips and tricks for identifying them in the text introduce young readers to birdwatching. For another picture book that celebrates discovering nature near home, including birds, check out The Hike.

Mel Fell

When Mel the kingfisher fledgling marches to the end of a branch, she spreads her wings... and plummets. As kids follow her fall down the vertically-oriented pages, though, they'll notice that even as Mel's friends rush to try to catch her, and even as her speed picks up as she races towards the ground, she keeps her eyes closed and a smile on her beak. When she crashes into the water, it seems like her fall was a failure... but when she emerges from the water, soaring back into the sky with a fish in her mouth, it turns out her dive was actually a great success! This charming tale, with its vivid illustrations and innovative format, is a celebration of self-confidence and taking a deep breath and making a leap into your first time trying something new.

She Heard the Birds: The Story of Florence Merriam Bailey

Florence Merriam Bailey loved birds: she adored spending time outside, watching and listening to her feathered friends. But when she grew up, she learned that most ornithologists of her day studied birds that had been stuffed and mounted, and never set foot outside their labs except to trap even more birds. Bailey proposed the modern system of birdwatching, even writing one of the first field guides to American birds, Birds Through An Opera-Glass. She was also an advocate for conservation, encouraging women to refuse to wear feathers in their fashion and fighting for laws that protected wild spaces. Author Andrea D'Aquino's elegant text and gorgeous collage illustrations tell the story of this pioneering scientist and how her innovative perspective changed the world.

Who Gives a Hoot?: Calpurnia Tate, Girl Vet

Fans of Calpurnia Tate will be excited to read her latest early chapter book adventure! Callie and Granddaddy are enjoying a row down the river when Callie sees an owl in the water -- that definitely means an animal in trouble. They're able to get the bird in their boat, but the next step is figure out what happened. The owl is clearly sick, but why? This third installment in the Calpurnia Tate, Girl Vet early chapter book series features characters from the Newbery Honor book The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate.

Stand On The Sky

In 12-year-old Aisulu's Mongolian Kazakh community, roles for girls and boys are still sharply divided, but she chafes at the boundaries. When her brother Serik develops a limp that won't go away, her parents take him to a distant hospital, leaving Aisulu with her aunt and uncle — and secretly caring for an orphaned baby eagle, just like the traditional eagle hunters do. Her aunt says that 'there have been women with eagles since ancient days'; Aisulu isn't sure that her father will agree. But when Serik needs expensive treatment, Aisulu hopes that a win at the Eagle Festival will not only pay for his care, but also prove that she deserves to be an eagle hunter. Lyrical and ultimately hopeful, middle grade readers will soar along with Aisulu as she finds her place in her community.

Coo

Coo was abandoned as a baby, and has spent ten years being raised by her adoptive family: a flock of pigeons. She's quite happy among the birds... until Burr, the pigeon she loves the most, gets hurt by a hawk. Coo remembers that one human, a retired postal worker named Tully, has cared for injured birds before, and dares to trust her with Burr's life. In time, she even trusts Tully enough to start to exploring the human world. But when someone starts trying to hurt the pigeons she loves, Coo has to figure out how to save them — and whether she can belong in both the bird and human world. This complex and nuanced story about belonging, family, and home is perfect for fans of Kate DiCamillo and Barbara O'Connor.

Across the Pond

For 7th grader Callie, the revelation that her parents have inherited a run-down castle in Scotland couldn't have come at a better time: her classmates have turned on her, and this is the perfect chance to reinvent herself... until an embarrassing moment on her first day of school sets things off on the wrong foot. She convinces her parents to let her homeschool, but they set the condition that she has to participate in a social activity. Inspired by a World War II journal she finds in her bedroom, she decides to join a local birding club. As she connects with a few of the local kids — and starts to recognize truths about what went wrong back in San Diego — Callie might just find both a passion for birds and a way towards a new beginnings. This heartwarming story explores friendship, self-identity, and the joy of finding where you belong.

Bird Building Blocks

Learn about a variety of beautiful birds with these heirloom-quality blocks from Uncle Goose! This set of 14 1.75" blocks each feature a different bird, with a full-body image one side and a close-up on the opposite side. The other faces of the block feature Art Nouveau-style letters, two printed and two debossed. And, like all Uncle Goose products, these blocks are made in the US with sustainable Michigan-grown basswood and printed with non-toxic inks.

Backyard Birds Toob

Imagine the birds living in your backyard with this Backyard Birds Toob from Safari! Toobs are collections of individually painted replicas of animals, all of which are scultped with true-to-life detail. This one celebrates common birds of North America, and includes a woodpecker, an indigo bunting, a robin, an oriole, a warbler, a cardinal, and a blue jay. Whether she's a bird watcher building a diorama or she wants to incorporate the figures into her imaginative play, she'll love these adorable little backyard birds.

Sibley Backyard Birds Matching Game

Work your memory and build curiosity about the birds you see in your backyard with the Sibley Backyard Birds Matching Game! This set includes 40 sturdy 2 3/8" x 2 3/8" square cards with rounded corners, each featuring artwork by leading ornithologist David Sibley. You'll spot blue jays, sparrows, hummingbirds, and more! It also comes with a colorful storage box. As kids play, they'll also develop concentration and memory skills — and be eager to apply them spotting birds in the great outdoors. For another memory game featuring birds, check out the Match a Pair of Birds Memory Game for ages 5 and up.

Bird Log Kids

She can track all of the birds she sees with the Bird Log Kids nature journal! This log book by DeAnna Brandt provides kids with information about the names of bird body parts, common terms used by birders, and a log tips page with advice for putting their log to work. Then, kids can head outdoors and fill the 30 log pages, with space for both written and drawn observations, and the 13 photo/art pages, with all of the exciting things they see! It's a great way to promote a love of the outdoors and an interest in the natural world.

Bird Bingo

Celebrate the beauty and diversity of birds from around the world with this game from Laurence King Publishing! 64 bird species make their appearances on these bingo cards; mark them off as you see them appear so you can win. An included leaflet also provides some information — including a few interesting facts — about each bird species. If she's more a fan of insects than birds, check out Bug Bingo!

Beginning Birdwatcher's Book

Young birdwatchers will love this activity book that lets them track their first birds with the help of colorful stickers! Each page of this workbook features one of 48 common North American birds — including the blue jay, the American crow, the ruby-throated hummingbird, the barn owl, and more — with facts about its size, habitat, eating habits, nest and egg-laying process, and range. When she spots a bird, she can put the colorful sticker into its place, and make notes about where and when she saw the bird, along with her personal notes! Written and illustrated by nature artist Sy Barlowe, this is the perfect choice to spark a lifelong interest in birdwatching.

What Bird Am I? The Bird Identification Game

In What Bird Am I? your bird identification skills will get put to the test! This card game from Outset Media features 300 photographs with spectacular close-up photographs of birds from the continental US and Canada, and a series of five clues about the bird's identity. Your goal is to identify the bird species; the fewer clues you need, the more points you win! Three different levels of play ensure that everyone from budding birders to long-time birdwatching buffs can have hours of fun with this game.

Wingspan

Welcome to the competitive world of bird enthusiasts! In this engine-building game from Stonemaier Games, you are hoping to build an extraordinary aviary — one that puts your fellow ornithologists and collectors to shame. Each turn, you use action points to add birds, gather food to attract new (and perhaps rare and special) birds, or even have your birds nest and lay eggs. Each habitat fosters a different type of action, so you'll have to balance your choices carefully to ensure you can build the best aviary around. This 1 to 5 player game with exquisite illustrations will delight both gamers and bird lovers, and includes swift-start pack with 4 guides and 10 new cards to make it easier for new players to join in!

Birds of Eastern / Central North America 1000-Piece Puzzle

Explore 120 of the most common birds of Eastern and Central North America — this puzzle from the New York Puzzle Company has them all, from the majestic Bald Eagle to the elegant Sandhill Crane! This puzzle, made in partnership with the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, comes with an informational poster and even includes a QR code to download an app with recordings of all the birds' songs and calls. This 1000-piece puzzle is 26.625'' by 19.25'' when complete, perfect for seeing every detail or for working on as a group. For another high-quality puzzle for bird lovers, check out this The World of Birds 1000-Piece Puzzle, also for ages 12 and up.