SPARROW LOVES REPTILES

A young bird lover shifts focus and goes in search of creatures that “slither, creep, and crawl.”

Carrying a backpack, binoculars, and a sketchpad, the protagonist of Sparrow Loves Birds (2024) visits a park with her father to look for reptiles. In Anthony’s colorful, softly swirling artwork, brown-skinned Sparrow’s cornrowed braids bounce up and down as she observes the world around her. The illustrations vary, from close-ups of the animals (sometimes seen through binoculars or a hand lens) to broader views of their surroundings. Meanwhile, Burgess peppers her text with facts—what reptile scales are made from, where these creatures can be found, and how to tell if a snake is venomous. Though Sparrow has apparently boundless energy, she frequently pauses to closely examine everything from snapping turtles to cottonmouths and to draw what she sees. Her dad, perhaps the source of the informative commentary, seems equally enthusiastic. The information Burgess provides is sound, but it’s Sparrow’s curiosity, patience, and perceptiveness that will truly inspire young naturalists as she draws on a vast store of knowledge to seek out wildlife; indeed, animals are often closer than we might think. While the book focuses on reptiles found in the southeastern United States, all readers, no matter their location, will find it a useful introduction.

An eye-opening reminder that nature truly is all around us.