This book of fantastical birds is sure to delight budding bird watchers and future ornithologists.
With the same descriptive flair found in a J. Peterman catalog, this unique picture book does not pretend to replace real birds but instead provides a launch point for readers to create their own. Set in 2031, this fictional catalog of mix-and-match options--beaks, feathers, bodies, tails, wings, legs and feet--allows readers to invent beautiful birds of the future (albeit not guaranteed to fly). Wit-filled suggestions, delivered with deadpan humor, are sprinkled throughout, such as, when picking wings, "give your bird enough elbow room." Keeping with the catalog format, once all the bird parts are selected, there is an instruction manual, troubleshooting guide, and finally a faux order form. This gorgeous book is a truly engaging and delightful flight for the imagination. --Susannah Richards, associate professor, Eastern Connecticut State University