The Robins in Your Backyard »

Nancy Carol Willis is a writer, illustrator, and nature lover whose publications include Delaware Bay Shorebirds and Kids Page. Her illustrations are featured in The Rock, Kindermusik Adventures, and Birds of Delaware. She lives in Middletown, Delaware.

This educational tale of the migration, mating, and nesting habits of a pair of robins as they raise and care for their young will delight parents, teachers, and children. Beginning with the welcome return of the robins in early spring, simple language and beautifully detailed colored-pencil illustrations reveal exactly what is happening in those nearby but hidden nests. Included are kid-pleasing details, such as the fact that a newly hatched robin equals the weight of one nickel, and that each robin can eat up to 14 feet of earthworms a day! A glossary, breeding-season time line, and tips on helping injured or orphaned baby songbirds make this book as practical as it is charming.

Children's Literature

Bird enthusiast Willis has written a book that will introduce the young reader to many aspects of the robin's life. She tells us about their mating routines and family structure, about their migration patterns, and about the first month or so of the baby robin's life. Also included is a special section on what to do if you find an injured or orphaned songbird.