Children's Books

Read-Aloud Thursday: Herons

We’re into herons around here this week. We saw no less than 6 of them at a nearby pond we visited the other day, and it sparked enough interest to read every word of this book by Bill Ivy, one of a series the girls are in the habit of selecting from every week.

Because of the opportunities we’ve had to observe herons, we found this book to be interesting, though it’s pure nonfiction. It even gave me something to look forward to about the fall, which is approaching all too quickly: when the leaves come down, we can look for heron nests. With as many of them around as we saw the other day, I’m pretty sure we should be able to see at least a few nests.

Another heron story is in Thornton Burgess’s The Adventures of Grandfather Frog, in which Long Legs the Great Blue Heron almost catches Grandfather Frog for breakfast. There we learn all about his patience as a hunter and feel the thrill of the drama! Long Legs actually has his own full book (pictured here), but we haven’t gotten ahold of a copy.

We sat down together to draw some herons in action, using photos we’d taken on our recent field trip. Here are the fruits of our labors, based on the sight of a heron coming in for a landing.

Younger Daughter's drawing
Older Daughter's drawing, modeled after a slightly different photo
My drawing

I like that we drew together. It’s something I always mean to do but never get to.

For more read-aloud posts, visit Read Aloud Thursday at Hope Is the Word.

4 Comments

  • Amy @ Hope Is the Word

    Oh, I remember the Nature’s Children series from when I worked at the public library! We still haven’t gotten around to Thornton Burgess, but one day we will. And need I even mention the drawings? You know I love them. :-)

  • Polly

    I love that you drew together too. Wonderful drawings! For years we have had a heron (or 2) that hung out on the opposite bank of the river from our house. Haven’t seen or heard him this year, but the river has been high all spring and summer and is just now getting to a more summer level. I hope to see him soon.

    I know you probably are not surprised(I was:) but I have a copy of Longlegs the Heron by Burgess. You can borrow it if you want, I’ll bring it Sunday. Let me know