Birds Sing Their Words

Awaken young children to the sounds birds make, and to their own unique voices.

In Birds Sing Their Words, two young children, guided by an adult, take a springtime walk through a city neighborhood, noticing how birds communicate. The sounds of fee-bee and per-chick-a-ree are all around them—alone, in chorus, or call-and-response style. The children learn that our own diverse voices parallel the many songs that birds sing.

Birds Sing Their Words:

• Shows that children can connect with nature and its important lessons, no matter where they live
• Engages young children in reflecting on the natural world
• Includes activity ideas to engage children in learning about birds in their own neighborhoods

This book is part of the Outside Our Window Board Books series, which encourages children—especially those in urban neighborhoods—to explore, protect, and delight in nature. Each book in the series focuses on one feature of the natural world (like birds), one sense (hearing), and one social or emotional learning skill (communication). The books emphasize community and encourage children and families to explore the natural world around them.

| In Birds Sing Their Words, two young children notice the birds outdoors and, together with an adult, embark on a walk through their neighborhood. They observe a variety of birds along the way, listening to their calls and noticing how their own voices parallel the many songs that birds sing. This book is part of the Outside Our Window Board Book series, which encourages children—especially those in urban environments—to explore, protect, and delight in nature. Each book in the series focuses on one feature of the natural world and one sense. There is so much to learn from nature, right Outside Our Window. |

Working at the intersection of nature, literature, and culture, Mélina Mangal's writing highlights youth whose voices are rarely heard, and the people and places that inspire them to explore their world. Her books from Free Spirit include Jayden's Impossible Garden, Jayden's Secret Ingredient, and the Outside Our Window Board Books series. She is also the author of short stories and biographies for youth, including The Vast Wonder of the World: Biologist Ernest Everett Just. She won the Carter G. Woodson Book Award and was named an NCSS/CBC Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People. Mélina also works as a school library teacher in Minnesota and enjoys spending time outdoors with her family, whether it's in her backyard or hiking in the woods.

Stella Lim is a Korean illustrator based in Seoul. She studied fine art at the Seoul Women's University and illustration at Kingston University in London. She draws inspiration from her childhood in rural South Korea, and likes to bring something new to each project she works on.

| "A delightful dive into the melodic world of birds, this vibrant board book will captivate young nature lovers and their grown-ups." | "Especially and unreservedly recommended." | "As a birder, I can't wait to share this delightful book with my birding community. It's the perfect way to help young birders connect with their feathered friends!" | "This story will make little readers' ears perk up and their hearts sing with the magic of bird songs!" | "I absolutely love the concept of connecting with nature while living in the city. Curiosity and joy emanate from the Outside Our Window series." | Truly noteworthy series . . . [that] deliberately and effectively emphasizes community and encourages children and their families to explore the natural world around them."