Bird books to crow about

Sometimes, I see several new picture books about similar topics. A few years ago, for example, there seemed to be a plethora of picture books released about trees. And, I remember another year with multiple picture books celebrating hair.

This year, within a week, I’ve read two 2025-released lyrical nonfiction picture books about birds. That’s not enough for a trend, but each book approaches its subject very well and very differently, so I wanted to share them with you.

I AM WE: HOW CROWS COME TOGETHER TO SURVIVE (Chronicle, 2025)

This book, by Leslie Barnard Booth with illustrations by Alexandra Finkeldey, is a lyrical, nonfiction picture book about how American Crows group together to gather food, raise their families and — most of all — protect themselves from predators.

The book is full of interesting, useful knowledge and also is one of the most beautiful poems I’ve ever read. The language is exquisite, clear and creative. I’ve already read it several times and I’m going to read it a few more just to focus on how Barnard Booth did what she did. Because … wow. Just … wow. Sometimes you don’t know what’s possible until you see someone else doing it. And then, you can learn from them and level up your own game.

Here’s one of my favorite pages talking about why large groups of crows gather together in the same spot at night:

“Still, danger’s always lurking,
and danger loves the night.
Danger’s tired of waiting.
Danger wants a bite.“

Once you get this book, please also read it out loud. You may think lyrical poems can’t have tension or drama. You would be wrong. If you read this properly — and I’m always dismayed by how many people don’t read picture books properly — you’ll have listeners of any age on the edge of their seats.

When you’re done admiring the main body of the book, turn your attention to the back matter. I’m a big fan of picture boosks with back matter, especially when it’s written in an engaging way. This book has FOUR FULL PAGES of back matter. From a design perspective, it doesn’t particularly stand out. It’s black headings with white text on gray pages.

But … I learned things about crows I never knew I needed to know. I read every word of every page and enjoyed them. I think you’ll do the same.

THE BLUE JAYS THAT GREW A FOREST
(Margaret Quinlin Books 2025)

This book, by Lynn Street with illustrations by Anne Hunter, is another nonfiction lyrical picture book.

As the title states, it’s about blue jays and how they help ensure that oak strees continue to, as Spock would say, live long and prosper.

All summer the long, blue jays feed on bugs, berries and seeds. As autumn approaches, they wait for acorns to ripen. Then, they haul them away, each bird taking as many as five at a time. They hide the acorns where they can find them later when other food is scarce. But, not all their hidden acorns will be eaten. Some will become the beginnings of brand-new oak forests.

This book doesn’t rhyme — it’s a free-verse poem — and it’s full of lyrical language:

“Autumn arrives, and the jays race
to gather and store food
for hungry winter days ahead.
Thousands and thousands of acorns.
But there is little time to work
before cold weather comes.”

This book also has detailed back matter full of facts you can share to amaze and astoud your friends. For example, did you know that blue jays have special pouches in their throats that allow them to carry several acorns at a time? That they can travel as far as 1,500 miles in a season burying their acorns? That their work is thought to have contributed to reestablishing oak forests after the last Ice Age? You will once you’ve read this book.

TWO OTHER TITLES TO PAIR WITH THESE

I like pairing picture books. So if you like these, consider matching them with two slightly older but equally impressive titles:

WHEN AGNES CAWS by Candace Fleming and Giselle Potter. This is a fiction picture book about Agnes and her orinthologist mom, who search for the elusive pink-headed duck.

Agnes is a gifted bird-caller. That makes this book wonderful to read aloud because you can imitate all the bird calls.

And, although this book is fiction, there’s lots of helpful back matter to increase your bird literacy.

ONE DARK BIRD by Liz Garton Scanlon and Frann Preston-Gannon. This is another lyrical nonfiction picture book that’s also a counting book — and how Garton Scanlon pulls that off is nothing short of impressive.

This book is about starlings who, like crows, work together to avoid predators in big groups.

But, the starlings do it by creating a murmuration, something I hadn’t heard of before this book. If you select the link, you’ll see an awesome video of some starlings in spectacular action.

So please, please, please, get busy reading these bird books.

You can request them from your library or purchase them from your favorite bookstore. Read them yourself, learn from them, and share them with a bird-loving friend of any age.

And, if you like these books as much as I do, feel free to crow about them anywhere you wish!

What’s your favorite bird book? Share it in the comments below.