Scan barcode
abigailbat's review against another edition
4.0
I really didn't think I would be into this book.... but a TINY BIRD has literally flown the distance from EARTH TO THE MOON over his very long (for a wild bird) life. B95 4EVA!!!!
Seriously, this is a book about birds... and conservation and the intricately intertwined web of nature. The red knot's population is declining, in part due to overfishing of its food supply. Reading the book is like reading a Discovery Channel nature show (and I mean that in the best way possible). Back matter includes *extensive* source notes, photo credits, an index, and a lot of great ways that kids and teens can get involved in doing something to help protect the red knot.
B95 4eva.
Seriously, this is a book about birds... and conservation and the intricately intertwined web of nature. The red knot's population is declining, in part due to overfishing of its food supply. Reading the book is like reading a Discovery Channel nature show (and I mean that in the best way possible). Back matter includes *extensive* source notes, photo credits, an index, and a lot of great ways that kids and teens can get involved in doing something to help protect the red knot.
B95 4eva.
stenaros's review against another edition
1.0
Read for Mock Printz
I get a big heavy feeling in my chest when I read about species in peril because it seems to be too big of a problem for anyone to solve and the whole thing feels hopeless. This book is about the amazing journey of a bird, but it's also about the trouble his fellow birds are in. I don't know what to do about that and dealt with my despair by putting the book down and never picking it up again.
Also, I found the prose rather breathless. And that annoyed me.
I get a big heavy feeling in my chest when I read about species in peril because it seems to be too big of a problem for anyone to solve and the whole thing feels hopeless. This book is about the amazing journey of a bird, but it's also about the trouble his fellow birds are in. I don't know what to do about that and dealt with my despair by putting the book down and never picking it up again.
Also, I found the prose rather breathless. And that annoyed me.
azajacks's review against another edition
5.0
I support independent bookstores. You can use this link to find one near you: http://www.indiebound.org
bethanymiller415's review against another edition
3.0
Moonbird is a rufa red knot, a robin-sized shorebird who, like others of his subspecies, migrates an astounding 18,000 miles each year. Scientists are able to identify Moonbird by the small band around his leg that reads B95. Scientists put lightweight bands on the birds’ legs so that they can study their migration patterns. Moonbird was a part of one of the first groups to get banded back in 1995. The author follows the journey taken by Moonbird and other rufa red knots, and along the way he interviews people who have spent their lives studying these birds and learns about the many obstacles that these birds face on their journey. On November 25, 2011 a photograph was taken proving that B95, the oldest and most famous of the rufas was still alive; however, in his lifetime the population of rufas has declined by 80% worldwide. Hoose concludes the book by discussing the human-created threats to the rufas’ survival and discusses the efforts of multiple conservation groups to prevent their extinction. His focus is on young people and how they have played a role in these efforts. The book includes color photographs and maps. It also has a table of contents, an appendix entitled “What You Can Do,” a bibliography, and an index.
This is a well written account of a truly astounding animal that most people probably know nothing about. Though the focus is on a single bird, Hoose makes a broader point about the importance of biodiversity. He shows the reader how different life forms rely upon each other, and the chain reaction that can occur when one species begins to disappear. The photographs and maps are high quality and enhance the text. The maps in particular really help to illustrate the amazing journey that these birds complete each year. The author’s source notes show the extensive research that went into writing the book, yet it is presented in a way that will be accessible to teen readers. The bibliography will be useful to those who want to do further research. Overall, this is a solid addition to public libraries as well as high school and middle school collections. Recommended.
This is a well written account of a truly astounding animal that most people probably know nothing about. Though the focus is on a single bird, Hoose makes a broader point about the importance of biodiversity. He shows the reader how different life forms rely upon each other, and the chain reaction that can occur when one species begins to disappear. The photographs and maps are high quality and enhance the text. The maps in particular really help to illustrate the amazing journey that these birds complete each year. The author’s source notes show the extensive research that went into writing the book, yet it is presented in a way that will be accessible to teen readers. The bibliography will be useful to those who want to do further research. Overall, this is a solid addition to public libraries as well as high school and middle school collections. Recommended.
couillac's review against another edition
4.0
Such a fascinating story! Hoose has uncovered a wonderfully engrossing tale of nature's extraordinary strength that also manages to provide a conservation lesson without being preachy.
vagrantshrew's review against another edition
4.0
Read this aloud with the kids; 13yo gave it a 3.5, 9yo gave it a 4.5. I thought the structure -- weaving the history and science through the story of a single bird -- was strong for the purpose of motivating interest and activism. Some of the kids' feedback: "I liked getting to know B-95." "It was interesting to learn how tracking technology has changed over time. "The biggest drawback was being forced to think about animal extinction." Indeed. And also the point.
bibliokris's review against another edition
4.0
Not sure this is a Newbery contender but I enjoyed reading this heroic tale of Moonbird, a.k.a. B95, a Rufa Red Knot shorebird that flies thousands of miles from Tierra del Fuego to northern Canada. Challenged by weather and man, the Rufa Red Knot population is plummeting. Hoose hopes that his book can help young & old learn about these beautiful birds and help save them from extinction. Writing was clear, compelling, entertaining. Lots of great scientific info about how the birds are trapped in order to band them and observe them. Glad I read this.