Coming full circle from An Egg Is Quiet (2006), the first entry in Aston and Long's beautifully designed series of nature books, this volume presents close-up views of nests as well as information about them. For younger children, a brief sentence or phrase written in cursive on each double-page spread offers a mostly sensory accompaniment to the illustrations by identifying sounds, sights, textures, sizes, and other qualities associated with nests. Kids who are ready for details will enjoy the hand-lettered paragraphs that describe the enormously varied structures, functions, and types of nests used by rodents, reptiles, amphibians, fish, insects, and mammals, as well as many birds. The concise, precisely worded text is illustrated with impressive, large-scale watercolor paintings that are gracefully composed and sometimes intricately detailed. While there is no back matter, this beautiful picture book will be an asset to science collections.

K-Gr 3 Beginning with the front endpapers, readers see a variety of nests, some familiar, like that of the honeybee, but others more likely unfamiliar, like that of the ovenbird, dusky scrubfowl, and orangutan. The back endpapers depict the animals that occupy these nests. The written text and the illustrations work together seamlessly. The main idea on each spread is written in large cursive font, while smaller supporting details appear in smaller print. The language is rich with words that appeal to the senses, accompanied by gorgeous, detailed watercolors of the various nests. VERDICT An excellent choice for units about animal homes and behavior. Myra Zarnowski, City University of New York