ALA Booklist (Sat Sep 01 00:00:00 CDT 2001)

December usually recalls holiday celebrations and gift giving, but it's also host to a different kind of tradition that is more than 100 years old: the Audubon Christmas Bird Count. In her debut children's book, Richmond follows a young girl and her mother as they partake in the important avian census that informs both scientists and conservationists. The pair sets out early to record all the birds they see and hear, and along the way, the book cleverly keeps a running list of their bird count in a notebook-style margin. There isn't much in the way of drama besides the girl's desire to see her favorite raven, but readers will enjoy locating and identifying various birds through Coleman's simple but beautiful illustrations. It's a wonderful introduction to bird-watching and the concept of observing nature, with back matter offering additional information and resources for those eager to learn more. Parents be warned: this book is so appealing that, come next December, you may find yourself out in the cold, counting birds.

Horn Book (Wed Apr 01 00:00:00 CDT 2020)

Young narrator Ava and her mother spend a winter day observing and recording the bird species they see as part of the annual Christmas Bird Count (an author's note explains that the event is run by the National Audubon Society). The text is full of information for fledgling scientists, with species names in bold and more information about each in the back matter. Ava's tally appears on the side of each spread during the count, allowing readers to watch the list grow as she spots new species.

Kirkus Reviews

A young citizen scientist helps count birds for the Christmas Bird Count, a hemispherewide event run by the National Audubon Society.On a snowy winter morning, Ava and her mother bundle up to spend their day driving and walking around through varying habitats to count birds in the area designated to them by their local organizer. This year, Ava's old enough to take the tally, which, in a clever design feature, runs along the side of each spread. Count guidelines are smoothly worked into Richmond's narrative: Count every bird you see or hear; make sure at least two people see or hear it; don't count any bird more than once. She even explains how a tally is marked. The birds, familiar to residents of eastern and central North America, are faithfully shown in context in Coleman's digital paintings. Ava and her mother have light brown skin, and Ava's hair is lighter and fluffier than her mother's straight, black locks; team leader Big Al presents white. The author builds suspense by including Ava's hope to see a raven again—a bird she saw two years ago but not on last year's count. The story includes common frustrations: birds only one person sees and birds that were probably counted already. Their final tally—24 species, from great horned owl in the early morning to the longed-for raven at dusk—is quite respectable, and more about each featured species appears in the backmatter.An engaging, informative introduction. (author's note) (Informational picture book. 5-9)

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

This picture book, informed by the author-s own decades of experience as a birder, follows Ava, her mother, and Big Al, the leader of their Christmas Bird Count team, as they travel around town recording the birds they see and hear for the annual winter census. A notebook sidebar itemizing Ava-s tallies is a welcome design element, allowing curious readers to keep track of the birds alongside the trio of citizen scientists. Back matter provides further details on the species featured, the importance of the Christmas Bird Count, and information on how to join one of the National Audubon Society-s count circles. While a bit hefty as a readaloud (-I saw one two years ago, but not last year-), younger readers may enjoy counting the birds in Coleman-s textured digital illustrations, which portray humans and birds in a friendly style. An instructive and attractive picture book for aspiring ornithologists and young nature aficionados. Ages 4-8. (Oct.)

School Library Journal (Fri Nov 01 00:00:00 CDT 2019)

Gr 3-5 Ava and her mother help with the annual Christmas Bird Count every year, where they join forces with other members of their community to note the birds they see in and around their neighborhood. This year is special: Ava gets to be in charge of keeping track of the birds they see and hear. The data they collect will help scientists understand patterns in the lives of the many birds in the world. Along with their team captain, Big Al, the three embark on a journey of identification and study that culminates in a celebration with other teams in their count circle. Soft, detailed illustrations bring the winter world to life, depict many bird species, and capture the sounds and feelings of a chilly winter day. Readers will love searching for birds along with Ava and her companions. A running tally at the far right side of the pages helps readers keep track of the birds they have seen. VERDICT This book introduces elementary school readers to the world of birds and citizen science in an accessible, welcoming way. Mary Lanni, formerly at Denver Public Library