HOME SCHOOL BOOK REVIEW
Book: Henry the Impatient Heron
Author: Donna Love
Illustrator: Christina Wald
Publisher: Sylvan Dell Publishing, 2009
ISBN-13: 978-1-934359-90-7 (hard cover)
ISBN-13: 978-1-607180-35-7 (paperback)
Related website: www.SylvanDellPublishing.com
Language level: 1 (nothing objectionable)
Reading level: ages 4-8 (grades P-3)
Rating: 5 stars (EXCELLENT)
Reviewed by Wayne S. Walker
Love, Donna. Henry the Impatient Heron (published in 2009 by Sylvan Dell Publishing). Have you ever been driving by a wetlands area and seen a heron standing in the water on one foot? Why do they do that? Henry was a young Great Blue Heron who had a problem. He just couldn’t stand still. He tried, but it seemed that his legs would twitch and his neck would itch and he would end up having to scratch himself. When the time came that Henry was able to fly away, he tried to catch a fish to eat. He went after a salamander for a tasty treat. He spied a plump little frog. But he was too impatient and lost them all. Finally, he came across The Great Blue Heron who was the King of Camouflage. Will he be able to help Henry learn how to stay still and get some food?
It seems that most children really enjoy learning about nature, especially different kinds of animals. Who would believe that the activities of a Great Blue Heron would be so interesting? In Henry the Impatient Heron, Donna Love gives youngsters an eminently readable story, accompanied by Christina Wald’s life-like and eye-catching illustrations, that will acquaint them with all kinds of information about herons. Following the actual text, there are four pages of “For Creative Minds” exercises, including “Great Blue Heron Facts,” explanation of “How Did Henry Hunt?”, and a heron life cycle matching activity. Even more information about “Related Websites” and “Teaching Activities” can be found at Sylvan Dell Publishing’s website to help parents and teachers to expand the learning possibilities. I found this book to be absolutely fascinating.
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