Hummingbird - by Nicola Davies (Hardcover)

About the Book

Every spring, birds small enough to fit in the palm of your hand fly two thousand miles north to lay their eggs. This is the story of one tiny hummingbird's amazing journey.

Book Synopsis

Follow a tiny hummingbird on its journey from Central America to Central Park in a captivating tale with exquisite illustrations echoing the creature's jeweled tones.

Tz'unun! Tz'unun! A buzz of wings, a flash of color . . . There's a very special visitor in Granny's garden. It's a hummingbird! And it's just about to begin its long migration, heading north to its nesting ground. Watch as it spreads joy to all who encounter it along its two-thousand-mile trek. In an engaging text sprinkled with facts, zoologist Nicola Davies introduces readers to this valiant bird, lighter than a nickel, while Jane Ray's lush, intricate illustrations, accented in gold Pantone, highlight its jewel-like beauty. More details about hummingbirds, along with a bibliography and an index, are available at the end to budding ornithologists.

Review Quotes

An accomplished science writer for children, Davies contributes a text that weaves strands of story and fact into a satisfying whole. Ray's radiant watercolor-and-pencil artwork creates landscapes that are full of life, yet orderly and graceful...Lightly combining narrative with relevant information, this beautiful picture book is brimful of quiet charm.
--Booklist (starred review)

The book, a colorful blend of fact and fiction, raises the bar for its genre and will leave many readers hopeful to hear the "Tz'unun! Tz'unun!" of hummingbird wings in their own gardens. A wonderful addition to any informational picture book collection.
--School Library Journal

Ray employs the jewel tones of the birds and the flowers they feed on (such as scarlet sage and trumpet honeysuckle) to create an airy yet lively backdrop that is as full of motion as the fluttering of a hummingbird's wings.
--The Horn Book

A sweet and endearing feathered migration.
--Kirkus Reviews

About the Author

Nicola Davies is a zoologist and award-winning author whose many books for children include Outside Your Window: A First Book of Nature, illustrated by Mark Hearld; Many: The Diversity of Life on Earth, illustrated by Emily Sutton; and The Day War Came, illustrated by Rebecca Cobb. Nicola Davies lives in Wales.

Jane Ray is the illustrator of many books for young readers, including a stunning edition of The Twelve Days of Christmas. Jane Ray lives in London.