As the title indicates, How Birds Sleep by David Obuchowski, illustrated by Sarah Pedry (mineditionUS, March 2023) teaches how nearly two dozen bird species sleep. The tone of the text sounds like a bedtime book, and it has a frame of a barn owl waking just as the animals are ready for sleep. Then, at the end of the picture book, that frame comes full circle with the owl returning to sleep as the other animals awake.
The illustrations show realistic birds in their natural habitats and homes, whether in a nest or buried under the snow. I liked that the hidden nests had a cut-away to show us how the birds sleep inside, safe and protected. There are also a few two-page spreads offer a sweeping panorama, including a seascape and a sky scene. These pages are my favorite. I learned that one species of bird sleeps while flying!
As I read, I considered various ways this book an be incorporated into homeschooling. Any unit about birds would benefit. I imagined myself reading this aloud to a group of preschoolers and having them act out the bird actions: tucked in a “nest,” standing on one leg, hiding their heads in their arms, flying, and so forth. Although the end matter appears on three text-dense pages better suited for an adult reader, the information is helpful. It discusses the definition and need for sleep, birds’ sleep habits, and climate change’s impact on bird habitats.
In opinion, How Birds Sleep offers a lot to it’s reader: it can be used for an information for a unit on birds or climate change, a pleasant bedtime story, or a pretty picture book to browse through.
I read a digital review copy of How Birds Sleep.
