Thunder Birds: Nature’s Flying Predators

Eagles, hawks, falcons, owls, and herons are some of nature's most impressive hunters. With sharp beaks and talons and intense eyes, these birds are magnificent in appearance as well. In Thunder Birds, Jim Arnosky presents the reader with a gorgeous look at these predators and what makes them such deadly hunters.From the powerful (and sharp) talons of the eagle, to the stabbing beaks of herons, these birds create striking images in our minds. Arnosky's illustrations are the best part of this book. The fold-outs are particularly striking as they show some of these birds at their actual size. In addition to the illustrations, Arnosky provides a glimpse into some of his own experiences with these birds including, watching black vultures tear apart an eight-foot alligator and an owl brushing by in the dark of night without making a sound. A fine book for sharing with groups large and small.

A very informative and beautifully illustrated book for children of all all ages. The pages open up to show the actual wingspans of the birds. I bought two!

I should say my mother loves it. Jim Arnosky has been one of our favorite artists for over 20 years, and his work is magnificent, even if this book was prepared for children. It is charming and educational, and his work is as breathtaking as usual. How I miss his TV show on PBS.

Great book but it was in fair condition. Many pages were pretty bent up.

The book is beautiful and it contains beautiful pictures.

My first grader and I are fans of Jim Arnosky's works, and we've read and enjoyed  Rabbits and Raindrops , Man Gave Names to All the Animals , Otters under Water , and many more.When we saw his latest book, we were captivated by the imposing bird on the cover.This book is devoted entirely to nature's flying predators - large birds of prey in all their splendor. The book begins with a feature on eagles, hawks, and falcons with a large fold out format that enables readers to appreciate the resplendent beauty of these amazing birds. I liked how Arnosky provides little anecdotes regarding his encounter with certain birds which makes it even more personal and engaging. Arnosky also provides readers with the actual measurements of the birds which enables us to imagine how truly magnificent these creatures are.The illustrations are breath-taking to say the least. My daughter's favorite were the depictions of the owls, and she was especially happy to see her favorite, the snowy owl peering out at her (she's a great fan of Hedwig, the snowy owl from the Harry Potter movies). Next on the list are vultures, and though I am not a fan of these birds, I enjoyed reading about them, and discovered that the reason vultures usually feed where they find carrion is because their feet are not strong enough to lift things.Herons and egrets are featured next with plenty of visually appealing and realistic paintings of these elegant creatures. My husband's favorites, the pelicans are also featured in here with an impressive fold-out featuring the American White Pelican and also the Brown Pelican. Having had close encounters with these amazing birds, we truly enjoyed reading about them.Loons, cormorants, gannets, and osprey are displayed in full color glory and in little, detailed pencil sketches. The author-illustrator mentions that the life-size paintings in the book are done in acrylic paint and white chalk pencil. I loved that Arnosky lists the places where these amazing birds can be found, and I hope to make it to some of these places with my family someday.

Such a wonderful book - beautiful illustrations and full of interesting facts for kids and adults alike. The fold out pages with life-size images of various birds are a great touch. This is one of my favorite nature books that I’ve bought for my daughter.

WOW. Jim Arnosky's breathtaking illustrations show life-sized raptors, giving children a hands on guide that their fertile minds can feast on and nourish their inner explorer. The giant fold out pages will elicit "oohs" and "awesome!" and make every nature lover, and bird enthusiast in particular, extremely pleased. 9-12 yr olds will immerse themselves in Arnosky's tales that accompany each set of illustrations providing facts and anecdotes about the birds. Absolutely a great addition to your home library. - Biblio Reads Children's Book Review

Wonderful, educational and a "living" book.