It can be hard to tell what exactly makes a bird a bird, especially when other creatures can fly, and even lay eggs. This beautifully illustrated book attempts to answer the question. I'm a fan of anything that encourages children to GET OUTSIDE and OBSERVE NATURE, so kudos to the author for this one.

What Makes a Bird, written by Megan Pomper and illustrated by Maia Hoekstra, is a lovely book in text and pictures and strongly recommended. The titular question is posed again and again by the young narrator, who works their way through the various elements of a bird, wondering if each is what makes a bird a bird: wings, beak, feathers, flight, eggs. But each time they think they’ve found an answer a problem pops up. Sure, birds lay eggs, but so do reptiles and others. Birds have beaks, but what about an octopus? Yes, most birds fly, but not all of them (penguins, emus, etc.). Maybe it’s whatever “you picture” in your mind when you think of a bird, though the narrator recognizes that their image won’t be the same as everyone else’s. In the end, they decide it doesn’t really matter—“They can be similar, different, ordinary, extraordinary, and they can all still be birds.” The text is simple in vocabulary but thoughtful, not particularly lyrical but with a nice cadence. Meanwhile, the illustrations are simply lovely, watercolor (or watercolor-like—I’m not an artist) images with mostly a soft palette, swirling colors and impressionistic backgrounds though the birds are sharper and more clearly defined. An excellent picture book and strongly recommended.

"What Makes a Bird" by Megan Pomper is a beautiful exploration of birds that would make a great edition to any bird-lovers library. My one criticism is personal - the cover is a bit dark so I wonder how children will interact with it for that reason. Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for a ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

<i>What Makes a Bird</i> is a lovely picture book that asks what traits makes a bird. Is it the feathers? The beak? Does it even matter?
As someone who's not great with metaphors, I wonder if it has a deeper meaning. It could be questioning labels that may or may not make sense, asking who decides the labels and why. (Or it could just be about birds, either way, I like it.)

If I read this as a child first, it might have been my favorite book. The art is beautiful. It's simple, yet painterly. Plus I love birds, so it's all-around a great read.

I recommend it if you love birds, art, or have kids that do!

Thanks Netgalley for the arc copy!

Beautiful! The art in this book was lovely and the text was thought-provoking and interesting. I liked it.

What a beautiful book!! The illustrations are stunning and evocative while the text leads children through thinking about what makes a bird a bird in an engaging question and response style. I will definitely be purchasing this for my library.

A real nice offering, warmly illustrated & presents a curious question about what really makes a bird a bird. It's a fun read & might inspire quite a conversation! I definitely recommend this for all......young & older too!
I received an e-ARC from publisher Owlkid Books via NetGalley for review purposes.

This book is excellent for reflecting on what defines a bird. By examining various features and comparing them to other animals, readers are encouraged to engage in thoughtful debates and reflections about what makes a bird unique. The opportunities to identify birds at the end of the book further enhance engagement. With stunning illustrations and a Classroom Discussion and Activity guide available from Owl Kids, this book is perfect for preschool and kindergarten through grade 2 classrooms.

Thank you to NetGalley and Owlkids Books for my gifted copy of What Makes a Bird? by Megan Pomper. I loved that this was a nonfiction book with so many facts and asks some really great questions. On top of this, the illustrations are gorgeous; bright, vivid and connects the reader. I cannot wait to get this one for my classroom.

There were 2 great things about this picture book: the illustrations are just gorgeous, bright and colorful and with a grand perspective. The text questions: what is a bird? and answers the question in simple language, but in the same logical, organized way we learn in biology. What a brilliant way to introduce early science concepts! Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this

In Megan Pomper's What Makes a Bird?, a boy is very curious about birds. To determine what makes a bird, he asks:

Is a bird a bird because it has feathers?

Is a bird a bird because it has a beak?

Is a bird a bird because it has wings?

Does laying eggs make a bird?

Flying? That's got to be it.

Is it the nest that makes a bird?

He wonders who decides what makes a bird. Can he? Can one conjure up anything in their minds? As he ponders these questions, his imagination soars, envisioning fantastical creatures. The boy's curiosity fuels his creativity. This leads him to understand that defining what makes a bird is not just about biology, but also about the endless possibilities of the mind.

This book was given to me through Netgalley for my honest review. I want to thank Netgalley, the Author, and the Publisher for the opportunity to review this book.

This was a cute little story about the curiosity of a little child and how they want to know what makes a bird. I think that this shows the curiosity of a child well and that it shows that asking questions and finding the answers is never a bad thing. It's in fact a way to make sure that you are able to question the world around you and to continue to learn and grow.

The art is so pretty. Feels like a watercolor painting. The end had a key that showed what type of birds were in the book. It was a nice and had a lot of birds I wasn't familiar with.

5 stars

I love this book! There is a clear way that the author organized this book, and it worked out perfectly, and it is apparent that every writing detail was carefully thought out, making this book very well-written and a joy to read. These aspects of the writing allow the reader's mind to be calm and go with the flow of the words. Part of this is also due to the breathtaking illustrations. The soft colors, wind depictions, and variety of birds brought the entire book to life, and transports the reader into this book's unique world. I adored these elements of the book which also make this story appropriate for any time of the day. Lastly, it was such a smart idea to include the index of the birds from the book (with pictures) at the back of the book, adding an educational level to this book. On top of that, the three purely artistic drawings and the "name these birds" activity will definitely spark any young reader's creativity.
Bravo!

This is a book that is very informative for children about different types of birds.
The illustrations are colorful and eye catching.
I think children who are interested in birds and want to learn more about them will like this one.

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC.

What a fun book! I love the questions that I poses for children, getting them to think more deeply about attributes that identify birds (or anything else).

The illustrations are beautiful and engaging. I’ll definitely be looking to purchase this book to use with my preschool class!

Thank you to NetGalley and Owlkids books for sending me a copy to review.

What Makes a Bird? is a beautiful picture book full of insightful questions as to what part of a bird makes them a bird. From feathers to flying, many questions are posed, promoting discussion among readers. The illustrations are colorful and captivating; this was a joy to read, and I would recommend it for any child with an interest in birds.
Thanks Owlkids and NetGalley for the ARC in trade for an honest review.

This book goes over how to grow your own wild garden! I thought this book was beautiful and a wonderful way to get children excited about wildlife and gardening. The illustrations in this book are breathtaking and do a wonderful job at showing different wild life. If you're interested in starting your own wild garden I recommend checking this book out!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Absolutely charming existential discussion on what makes a bird--is it its physical attributes? what it can do? what it's made for? how we see it? The book provides questions and let's you answer them opening up more ideas of perception, and what makes anyone or anything what they are--I can't help but think about identity and self awareness too.

Really lovely idea with beautiful digital illustrations.

A wonderfully imaginative book about what, exactly, makes a bird a bird. Is it their wings? Beaks? Nests? Our main character takes us exploring through many different kinds of birds (even ones from their imagination!) to try and figure it out.

This book is perfectly in sync with children's often endless curiosity, and the accompanying illustrations are gorgeous and immersive. I especially love that the author included a reference in the back pages for each bird shown!

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for an honest review.