A Sky That Sings

From Lee and Low Publishers

Mia, a blind girl who enjoys identifying birds by their distinct calls and songs, leads her aunt through the park on a bird-listening adventure!

Mia and her tía are spending a sunny afternoon at the park bird-listening! Some people enjoy bird-watching but as a blind person, Mia uses her other senses to identify different birds by their unique calls and songs. She calls it bird-listening.

Mia loves naming each of the birds that she hears. Sweet! Sweet! Sweet! Is that the chipper call of a yellow warbler? At first Mia’s aunt doesn’t know what to expect, but with Mia’s guidance, she learns to listen and enjoy the bright melodies pouring from the sky. Their adventure will take them past a lively pond, through the hush of the quiet woods, and up a breezy hilltop for a soaring encounter with Mia’s favorite bird of all!

Perfect for bird lovers of every feather, A Sky That Sings invites us to open our senses to life’s everyday treasures–the delights of nature and spending time with loved ones.

School Library Journal says:

K-Gr 2–This book takes readers on an enchanting afternoon adventure through the park for bird-listening. Mia delights in listening to her favorites, since she does not see them; her visual impairment is not portrayed as a hindrance. Along with her aunt (tía), Mia follows her ears as she listens for chickadees, blue jays, yellow warblers, and her favorite, a red-tailed hawk. Mia explains how to listen and identify each bird’s song while she chases along a path, leaving tía struggling to keep up with her. Mia introduces readers to a whole new world. They will be intrigued by the challenges of identifying birds only by their songs and might even want to head directly outside, book in hand, to start listening and looking for the types of birds featured in the story. Readers will likely be familiar with the sounds without realizing the source of each song. Vibrant illustrations focus on an array of birds, while making readers feel like they are right there in the park with the characters. This title would also be perfect for teaching onomatopoeia. VERDICT Ideal for any educator teaching listening skills or the science of birding, this book is also an inclusive tool perfect for a variety of content connections, including science and ELA.

photo by Steve Bonn