The Fascinating World of Birds

PreS-Gr 5—This well-organized program begins with a discussion of the common characteristics of birds such as eggs with hard shells, hollow bones, feathers, wings, warm blood, and beaks. Ten remarkable birds are introduced via live-action videography as the narrator describes their features. Among the birds presented are the ostrich, penguin, Canada goose, eagle, hummingbird, woodpecker, macaw, pelican, American robin, and owl. Each species, introduced using close-up images, is clearly identified by name. These creatures are shown in their natural habitat, giving viewers an accurate perspective of their everyday life. Interesting and amazing facts cover topics such as size, diet, care of young, community living, life span, and other unique features. Onscreen subtitles show new vocabulary ss an age-appropriate youth presents a definition and sentence using each word. The second part of the program provides a four-part review of bird identification, features, facts, and vocabulary using multiple choice questions and flash cards. While this program will appeal to a range of age levels, it is best suited for elementary graders, making it a good choice for public library and school media collections as well as for homeschoolers.—Linda M. Teel, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC