As a mum of two boys who are absolutely obsessed with birds, I’m always on the lookout for books that capture their imagination—and Encyclopedia of Birds did just that! From the very first page, they were completely hooked, pointing excitedly at the beautiful illustrations and naming all the birds they recognised.

The book is packed with fascinating facts about a huge variety of birds, and it’s written in a way that’s both engaging and accessible. My boys loved learning about different species, their unique behaviours, and incredible adaptations. It sparked so many curious questions, and we’ve spent hours discussing our favourite birds!

But what really brought the book to life were the stunning illustrations. Each page is filled with vibrant, detailed artwork that makes the birds practically flutter off the pages. My youngest loved tracing his fingers over the pictures, and even my eldest, who usually prefers non-fiction, was mesmerised by the lifelike drawings.

If you have little nature lovers at home—or even if you just want a beautifully illustrated book to share together—Encyclopedia of Birds is a must-read. It’s one we’ll be returning to again and again!

This is such a fun, fascinating, and informative book! I think it's great for both kids and adults. It's got concise information for over 300 species of birds, including hummingbirds, falcons, birds of paradise, and more. My kids and I read about birds we're already familiar with, and birds we'd never heard of!

Thank you to Quarto Publishing Group – Wide Eyed Editions for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Book Review: Encyclopedia of Birds by Jules Howard, Illustrated by Namasri Niumim

Rating: 4 Stars

As an avid reader and casual birdwatcher, I recently picked up Encyclopedia of Birds by Jules Howard, and it’s been a delightful exploration into the captivating world of our feathered friends! This visually stunning encyclopedia showcases over 300 bird species from all corners of the globe, making it not only an informative read but also a beautiful addition to any bookshelf.

From the vibrant tropical parrots and toucans to majestic sea birds and powerful eagles, this book truly offers a comprehensive guide to the incredible diversity of avian life. It’s like a passport to a world filled with color and wonder—perfect for curious minds eager to learn about the creatures that soar through our skies.

First off, I have to mention the cover. What a delightful design! It’s eye-catching and inviting, making it a book that could easily attract both dedicated bird lovers of all ages. The organization of the content is impressive; birds are thoughtfully grouped into families based on unique characteristics. This layout not only makes it easy to navigate and grasp differences among species at a glance.

And let’s talk about the illustrations by Namasri Niumim—absolutely gorgeous! Each page feels like a mini gallery showcasing the beauty of birds, making it hard to put down. It's clear that a lot of thought went into pairing informative text with stunning visuals, which enhances the overall experience.

Encyclopedia of Birds is more than just a reference book; it’s a perfect companion for families to explore together after long walks or while spotting birds in their gardens or urban environments. Whether you’re looking for a resource for classroom discussions or simply want to enjoy some quality family time, this book fits the bill beautifully.

In conclusion, I would rate Encyclopedia of Birds four out of five stars. It strikes a wonderful balance between being educational and visually appealing, making it a treasure for personal libraries and educational institutions alike. If you're looking to decode the skies and forests filled with feathered wildlife, then this book is an absolute must-have!

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️

Thank you Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book. The opinions written are completely honest and my own.

This book was not my favorite bird encyclopedia. The fact that there didn't seem to be s rhyme or reason as to the order of the birds bothered me a lot. I did however love that the birds were found worldwide and not just North America.

I received an arc of this title from NetGalley for an honest review. Great book of birds from around the world. Some text about each one and a photo help explain their differences.

A book that will appeal to both bird enthusiasts as well as school children wanting to leaf through encyclopedias in the break time. I love how organised the book is grouping birds into families based on their characteristics. Watching them side by side gives young readers a quick glance about the similarities and the distinctions. I have to mention how gorgeous the illustrations by Namasri Nuimin are! It would make a wonderful addition to any library, personal or organisation!

Covering over 300 species of bird, Encyclopedia of Birds by Jules Howard - zoologist and natural history expert - is a beautifully illustrated book of a very small selection of birds found in the world.
It is very well laid out, explaining firstly what a bird is and how it has descended from dinosaurs. It is split up into families of birds with a small selection of species from each family, with a description, length of bird, diet and where in the world it can be found.
This book is aimed more at children, but can be enjoyed by adults as well.
I think my only criticism would be that although it is good to see so many different birds from around the world, there are very few visitors or native birds to Europe included.
Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and author for letting me read a copy of this book in return for my honest review.

Encyclopedia of Birds is a great collection of bird facts. Full of illustrations and practically coded, this is a wonderful educational resource to learn about all types of birds.

What an incredibly fascinating book!! So much information crammed into it with over 300 different species of bird. I have loved using it with my daughters (aged 2 and 4) who were mesmerised by the beautiful illustrations and my eldest has gone to nursery with lots of facts to tell her teacher which she was really excited about (and her teacher was very surprised!). It was well presented in an easy to read format and will be a book I will want to buy for my bookshelf for easier reference!

Thank you NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group for this eCopy to review

From the moment I opened the first page, I was captivated by the vivid and detailed illustrations of the various bird species. The artwork brings each bird to life in a way that photographs simply cannot. Howard's passion for bird life is evident in every stroke of the brush and every carefully chosen word.

What truly sets this book apart is the depth and breadth of information it provides. Howard's writing is both accessible and authoritative, making it a fantastic resource for both novice and experienced bird watchers alike. Each entry is meticulously researched, offering fascinating insights into the behaviours, habitats, and unique characteristics of birds from around the world.

One of my favourite aspects of the book is how it highlights the connections between different species and their environments. Howard masterfully weaves in ecological and conservation themes, reminding us of the importance of protecting these incredible creatures and their habitats. It's a powerful message that resonates throughout the pages.

The book is well-organized, with a user-friendly layout that makes it easy to find information on specific birds. The inclusion of maps, charts, and other visual aids enhances the learning experience, making it both informative and enjoyable.

In conclusion, Encyclopaedia of Birds is a fantastic reference book on birds or nature in general.

This is a wonderful book for adults and children alike. It is filled with lots of useful information for anyone who wants to know more about families of birds. My favourite sections were the ones about owls and the birds of torpor. I loved learning about birds I'd never heard of like the Tawny Frogmouth and the Oilbird to name a couple. The full colour illustrations are gorgeous and capture the detail of the plumage beautifully.

You don't have to be a kid to enjoy this reference book of birds! The illustrations are fantastic and I loved all of the little facts about each bird. There were so many I had never even heard of before. I can't wait to share this with my nieces and nephews who love nature!

A lovely bird encyclopedia for children (although I see no reason why adults wouldn't enjoy it too - I did!)

There was some useful information at the beginning of the book about what makes a bird, and a guide to bird families, and then sections on different types of birds.

I loved that there were so many varieties of bird here, and it was incredibly informative, with little descriptions and facts listed next to each species.

The illustrations were also beautiful, it was a pleasure to look at. Would highly recommend for budding bird lovers.

This is perfect for the young bird watcher or any kid who loves reading about animals or birds. The information provided about each animal is concise and understandable. The illustrations that accompany the descriptions are simple and well done.

This book is eye catching to look at. If you enjoy learning about birds then this is the book for you. It's full of information on so many different birds, many I hadn't even heard of. It's beautifully illustrated and easy to read. I would recommend. Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This was a fantastic book! Very informational and educational. For the bird lover as myself, this helpful Encyclopedia of Birds is so very wonderful to use. So many interesting facts about birds that any bird lover will adore!

While I’m not a child, I am a lover of birds, so I jumped at the opportunity to read this book when I saw it available on Netgalley!

For the most part, I think this book was great - the illustrations were fantastic and from what I could tell (at least for the birds I know about), the information was pretty factual. The only info that I found to be less than correct was locations but I may be a bit too picky with this and your average child reading this won’t have a problem. Things like very common birds found throughout the world (including here in Australia where they are taking over and causing major problems as introduced pests) being listed as ‘found throughout the northern hemisphere’. While others simply stated ‘Eastern Australia’ for birds that are only found in one tiny location - which, to be fair, is in Eastern Australia - but it doesn’t really narrow it down very much given the size of Australia. The author also seems to be unaware of the fact that Tasmania is in fact part of Australia, and not a country of its own.
On a positive note though, I loved the introduction and explanation of ‘What is a bird?’ where the author broke down scientific terms into very readable descriptions for the kids who will no doubt read this, and linking back to dinosaurs was something I was very appreciative of, as I feel like that fact still isn’t talked about enough today!
There were a few birds described that are critically endangered, and I appreciated that those were made a point of - although I would have liked to see more, I understand there’s only so many that you can fit into a book like this. I also loved the last section of the book where it explains how to ‘get to know birds near you’ and that we’re encouraging more kids to get into birding!
Overall, although I know I’m not the target audience for a book like this, I enjoyed it and feel like I learned some stuff about some unique birds from other parts of the world I’d never thought to research before now.

An intriguing reference book for birds. The illustrations are beautiful and I loved all of the fun facts about each bird. I would definitely buy this book and recommend to others.

A beautiful book.

Amazing illustrations covering a wide variety of birds from around the world, with a short description for each.
Clear and easy to read text accompanying, which was informative but not overwhelming.

As an adult I enjoyed reading this book and I'm sure a child who was interested in birds / nature / wildlife would enjoy this too.

This is a beautiful children's encyclopedia that introduces the reader to over 300 species of birds. Each page or spread is devoted to a group of related birds, organized taxonomically (though not in the order found in most bird guides). From each group, several species are featured - a good mix of common European and North American species that a reader living in one of those geographic areas will recognize with those from around the world, inviting one to share in the awe of the sheer variety. Beautiful, if somewhat schematic, illustrations accompany the snippets of information. Seems best suited for an introductory acquaintance at the middle-grade level.

I received a free eARC of this title from NetGalley; the review above is my own independent opinion.