Marsh Morning (Single Titles) - Hardcover

Kindergarten-Grade 3-Morning comes to the marsh with wildlife awakening amid watercolor mist and movement in grays, browns, greens, and black, re-creating this unique ecosystem. Rabbit stands in mid motion, heron is knee-deep in water, and red-winged blackbird "starts his melody." Four lines of rhyme introduce the language of sparrow and wren's vocalization, and crane and woodpecker's syncopation, in a chorus or solo of movement and song. This title is a perfect companion to the author's Marsh Music (Millbrook, 2000), which beautifully graces many picture-book collections, but be warned that Marsh Morning is not, as the CIP designates it, nonfiction. Sylvia Johnson's Songbirds: The Language of Song (Carolrhoda, 2001) could fill that need. A glossary of musical terms with pronunciation guides and a list of the birds in order of appearance, including physical and vocal descriptions, end a delightful offering. This title will engage children as they enjoy the day that comes to an end with a night melody, a "-laughing loon./Ha-oo-oo he sings as he takes flight. Where is the music of the night?" Excellent.
Nancy Call, Santa Cruz Public Libraries, Aptos, CA
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