Review: Feathers For Lunch

Feathers for Lunch, by Lois Ehlert, 1990. Picture book, ages 2-6.

Uh oh... a cat gets out of the house and decides to look for some
"wild" food to spice up his diet... but the bell around his next
always prevents him from catching his prey. Hence, he only gets
"feather for lunch" as the title says. The bold illustrations in
cut-paper style and rhyming text ("But cats can't fly and they can't
soar, and birds know what their wings are for.") keep this book a
favorite for little ones. All the birds depicted in the story are
labelled and life size, and the plants are labelled too! There is also
a 4-page glossary of the 12 birds that got away, telling facts about
each bird's size, diet, and home. This book tells a cute story, but to
me what makes is stand out is it's unique ability help young children
learn to recognize common birds they see.

Reviewed by Stacey, parent

Note: (from Tina, parent/bookseller) Our son adores this book,
and from reading it with him, he could correctly identify the
neighborhood birds at age three. The story could have been done
with "storybook" style non-realistic birds, but because Ehlert chose
to make them realistic (with gorgeous lush colors), it is a great
educational resource for young children. The rhyming story is
enjoyable too. Five stars!