The Real Poop on Pigeons! by Kevin McCloskey is a non-fiction simple comic like book that is perfect for boys and girls alike. I loved learning many things about pigeons, which to be honest I didn't have the highest opinion of before. However, I do think differently I'm sure glad I got this book from Myrick Marketing for my honest opinion and review, b/c I would not have picked this one up on my own.
I have thoroughly enjoyed The Real Poop on Pigeons! It is a great informational comic book.
I give this book 4 out of 5 stars in my book review. I liked the content and the pictures. I felt the format of the book was great for someone who doesn't like to read. I liked that this book gives teachers and librarians the opportunity to really teach from it. The Real Poop on Pigeons! is engaging for students, challenging, but not overwhelming. There's many things that I like about this book which is why it earned a higher rating.
I absolutely love the inside cover; I love when the inside covers have great details and look pretty. It just makes me happy to see such detail. I feel McClosky did a great job with the pictures/illustrations. He was consistent with the style of writing and illustrations throughout. Like in the image below the pictures truly enhance the book.
I feel the facts presented in the book were great. Facts, and how they are presented, are what take informational texts from good to great. Did you know pigeons carried mail?
My biggest qualm with this book came with Toon Book's reading level system. I first found this chart in the very back of the book. I thought it was great looking chart, but I actually had a difficult time finding what level The Real Poop on Pigeons! was. I couldn't find any reference on the front, spine, or even inside the book anywhere. It wasn't until I found it on the Toon Books website and then noticed Level 1 was written on the back of the book above the ISBN.
I definitely didn't like how difficult it was to find the level of a "Leveled" book, but when I finally did find the level I have to disagree with it. This book is short in the number of words, has short sentences, and meets the other bullet points under Level 1. However, the content of the book is a little high for Kindergarten and 1st graders. I would say this book is better geared to 2nd-5th graders. This would be a good book for reluctant readers b/c it is short and easy to read.
Amazon had the following book description to get you even more excited about the book:
"Did you know a pigeon can fly faster than a car and farther than a small airplane? Or that they have something unusual in common with penguins, flamingos, and even the dodo? With his trademark mix of humor, well-researched facts, and artistry, Kevin McCloskey delivers the straight poop on these humble creatures, which turn out to be...coo, coo, COOL!
Kevin McCloskey, who teaches illustration at Kutztown University in Pennsylvania, learned about pigeons from Vinnie Torre, one of Hoboken’s last pigeon racers. He dedicated this book to his children, even if his daughter is a little skittish on the subject since a flock of pigeons descended on the family during a visit to London’s Trafalgar Square. He says he considered painting the pictures here on roofing material (because pigeons flock to roofs) but settled instead for painting on a pigeon-blue Fabriano paper, the kind used by Picasso."
Go check this book out! It's a great book for parents, teachers, and librarians to add to their collection especially if you have a bird fan or a non-fiction book reader. Just so you know, most young kids love non-fiction b/c it is relatable. Kids see pigeons, and this book allows them to use a reading strategy and connect this book to their world and/or lives.
Check back Friday for my review of We Dig Worms! another informational comic book by McCloskey.
Happy Pigeon Reading in Beginner Comic Format!
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