Super Swifts: Small Birds with Amazing Powers - by Justin Anderson (Hardcover)

About the Book

"An evocative nonfiction narrative follows the swifts on their epic journey north, from the jungles of Africa to nesting sites in Europe. A swift may not look like anything special--it's just a plain brown bird, small enough to nestle in the palm of your hand--but these superheroes of the avian world can fly incredible distances amazingly quickly, reaching speeds of up to seventy miles per hour and spending ten months of every year in the air. Follow one female swift from the steamy forests of tropical central Africa to northern Europe as she navigates arid desert and restless ocean, dodging predators along the way. Eating, drinking, and sleeping on the wind, she won't rest until she's reached her nesting site. Woven through with fascinating facts amplified in an author's note and index, Super Swifts fuses gorgeous collage illustrations and a lilting text to evoke the grandeur of a voyage like no other--and introduce a singular bird with amazing powers"--

Book Synopsis

An evocative nonfiction narrative follows the swifts on their epic journey north, from the jungles of Africa to nesting sites in Europe.

A swift may not look like anything special--it's just a plain brown bird, small enough to nestle in the palm of your hand--but these superheroes of the avian world can fly incredible distances amazingly quickly, reaching speeds of up to seventy miles per hour and spending ten months of every year in the air. Follow one female swift from the steamy forests of tropical central Africa to northern Europe as she navigates arid desert and restless ocean, dodging predators along the way. Eating, drinking, and sleeping on the wind, she won't rest until she's reached her nesting site. Woven through with fascinating facts amplified in an author's note and index, Super Swifts fuses gorgeous collage illustrations and a lilting text to evoke the grandeur of a voyage like no other--and introduce a singular bird with amazing powers.

Review Quotes

Anderson introduces readers to the small, unassuming birds who migrate yearly from central Africa to northern Europe as the "champions of the bird world.". . . Interspersed are facts and further information for curious readers.
--School Library Journal

It's a close-up view that hints at the inter-relatedness of life. More about swifts concludes.
--Publishers Weekly

In this accessible science picture book, a common swift flies from Africa to Europe in order to nest and reproduce in the summer. . . . Engaging collage-like mixed-media illustrations against varied backgrounds capture the characteristic motion of swifts in flight. The pacing and level of detail are just right for young readers, while the information on life cycle and abilities is sure to impress slightly older ones.
--The Horn Book

Mixed-media close-ups by Robin show the birds' gray plumage and blade-like wings, while aerial views show a female ("our swift") flying over vast oceans and above misty banks of sun-reflecting golden clouds. . . . a close-up view that hints at the inter-relatedness of life.
--Publishers Weekly

Ideal for a read-aloud. . . Robin's mixed-media illustrations show the changing scenery in double-page spreads; smaller vignettes depict nesting details and a thrilling scene in which our protagonist must evade an attacking falcon. A quick look at a super-speedy bird.
--Kirkus Reviews

There is an impressive amount of information packed into the book's elegant pages, which allow readers to follow the larger, boldface text for the overarching migration story and delve into the smaller vignettes for in-depth details and fascinating facts. Marvelous mixed-media illustrations have a collaged feel, combining texture and depth to give a sense of the vast distances that the swifts must traverse. An amazing avian adventure sure to leave its audience in awe.
--Booklist

The book's layout makes the swifts' journey especially comprehensive, as the main, sequential narrative follows the bird and is laid out in bold, larger text, while further details and interesting tidbits of info are elaborated upon in smaller font. The structure encourages both in-depth reading and browsing, allowing readers to pick and choose how they engage; the additional info is packed with kid appeal, from the subplot of a louse tagging along with the swift to the swifts' amazing abilities to sleep and drink while flying. The mixed media art has a collage-like style that brings dimensionality and depth, while dappled and brushlike textures match the birds' movement and energy. . . . This avian tale will make a fine introduction to bird migration.
--The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

Readers will never again take the small, nondescript swift for granted after reading Justin Anderson's tribute to this avian champion.
--The Virginian-Pilot

About the Author

Justin Anderson is a zoologist and filmmaker and the author of Snow Leopard: Ghost of the Mountains, illustrated by Patrick Benson. He has eighteen years of documentary experience working for the BBC and directed the "Mountains" episode for the BAFTA and Emmy Award-winning Planet Earth II series. Justin Anderson lives in England.

Clover Robin is a collage artist and the illustrator of several books for young readers, including Firsts and Lasts: The Changing Seasons by Leda Schubert. Clover Robin lives in England.