Have You Seen Birds?

Written by Joanne Oppenheim, Illustrated by Barbara Reid. Scholastic Canada

A band, a flight, a flock of birds – the world of full of lots of birds!

Like many of nature’s wonders, birds are often taken for granted. But these birds won’t go unnoticed! Spring, summer, autumn and winter birds, woodland, meadow, sea and marsh birds – all are brought to life in lively lyrical prose and rich Plasticine relief illustration. Colour and movement abound in every detail, making each bird memorable.

In print for more than 30 years, the new edition features the addition of a key to the names of all the birds in the book, to satisfy both young artists and scientists.

Available in French

Have You Seen Birds?

Winner

  • Unicef Ezra Jack Keats International Award, 1987 (for a body of work)
  • Canada Council Prize for Children’s Literature, 1986
  • Ruth Schwartz Award for Children’s Literature, 1986
  • Toronto Municipal Chapter IODE Children’s Book Award, 1986
  • IBBY, Elizabeth Mrazik Cleaver Award, 1987
  • White Raven’s Selection, International Youth Library
  • International Reading Association, Big Book Award, 1992

Shortlisted

  • CLA Amelia Francis Howard Gibbon Award

This is a delightful book, one to pore over time and time again.

— West Vancouver Guide

Each picture is richly crafted, not with pen or brush, but with the unique and colourful Plasticine-relief technique of Barbara Reid. From the tiny feathers to vast horizons, she captures detail, personality and humour.

— The Christian Science Monitor

…she plays with the Plasticine and the page layout to add depth of field, drama and some lovely comic passages.

— The Globe and Mail

Stunning, vibrantly colorful plasticine-relief illustrations make this book so special. The birds really do appear to dive, dip, glide, and tip. The clever details and excellent page design maximizing use of white space make for an exciting look at the world of birds for preschoolers and beginning independent readers. This is a winner.

— School Library Journal

If Have You Seen Birds? is not already in your library, it is definitely one to add!

— Canadian Materials

Book illustration, "Have You Seen Birds?", client: Scholastic Canada. © Barbara Reid Book illustration, "Have You Seen Birds?", client: Scholastic Canada. © Barbara Reid Book illustration, "Have You Seen Birds?", client: Scholastic Canada. © Barbara Reid

Click the image to see an excerpt

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Age and curriculum suggestions

Student artwork inspired by the book