Online reader copies have pretty much become the way that I read future publications as fewer physical reader copies are finding themselves in my hands. And one that I am glad I read, regardless of the format, is Birdlore: The Iridescent Life of Florence Merriam Bailey by Jess Keating and some far out illustrations by Devon Holzwarth. Due in mid-March 2025, I am excited to tell you about it so you can go to your local independent bookstore and pre order copies.
Yes, copies. You will want one for your personal library, your ornithological friends, your child/grandchild’s school library and your local town library. You will want to gift it to nieces and nephews. This is a fun and interesting book about a woman ruffling feathers in the scientific world. Florence Merriam Bailey was always in love with nature, but her true love was birds. In different forms, she would study them, learn about them, even teach about them. And during one fateful dinner she realized she would have to advocate for them. The other scientists might be more well known, but they dealt with the birds in parts, when they were dead, and not in the way Bailey would: alive and well. She would get her college classmates interested in birds, and many others. She would write what will be considered the first guide on the subject for American birds and help push conservation of the animals in her own way.
As I said Holzwarth created some far out illustrations. They are colorful illustrations. They are busy illustrations. They are clever and fun and informative illustrations. They are their own character while supporting the story. Also included is an informative afterwards that adds the details that did not fit into the story directly as it is more of an introduction than a formal biography. Works well for at least ages five and up, but the seven to nine group might be turned off by the picture book format. 