Ava: A Year of Adventure in the Life of an American Avocet
by Mandy Kern
illustrated by Onalee Nicklin
Observing birds in their natural habitat is brought to life in Ava: A Year of Adventure in the Life of an American Avocet. “Kansas Wetlands Education Center Program Specialist Mandy Kern is passionate about helping others appreciate the natural resources around them. She enjoys making opportunities for children to connect with the outdoors, away from electronics and screens.” Host to almost half a million shorebirds annually, the Cheyenne Bottoms Preserve is an essential migration point in the Western Hemisphere, a wetlands home of the Central Flyways.
Unfortunately, “unregulated hunting, predators, human disturbance, habitat loss, and climate change threaten these birds' survival.” Although numerous plants and animals face conservation challenges, the beauty of the diverse wildlife population remains etched in the reader’s mind. Ceremonial courting and instinctive and protective behaviors are evident in this story geared for various ages, interests, and abilities.
Complete with science literacy, accurate descriptions, a helpful glossary, and authentic photography, Ava is accented with personification, onomatopoeia, energetic vocabulary, and inviting color. The distinct plants and animals of the freshwater marsh and upland grass captivate birds in their journey from Mexico through Texas and Oklahoma to Kansas then onward north as far as Canada.
Onalee Nicklin’s precise and artistic depiction of animals in their thriving reservoir enhances the story. Her detailed illustrations engage the reader with a creative complexity. Kern and Nicklin’s combined efforts portray shorebirds in their remarkable environment. “More than a bird’s eye view,” Ava is recommended for those intrigued by ecosystems, estuaries, flora, fauna, and migration. This important nature story compels respect for all living landscapes.
Respectfully submitted,
Carmaine Ternes
Librarian, Author, Editor, Presenter
“A child who reads will be an adult who thinks!”
by Mandy Kern
illustrated by Onalee Nicklin
Observing birds in their natural habitat is brought to life in Ava: A Year of Adventure in the Life of an American Avocet. “Kansas Wetlands Education Center Program Specialist Mandy Kern is passionate about helping others appreciate the natural resources around them. She enjoys making opportunities for children to connect with the outdoors, away from electronics and screens.” Host to almost half a million shorebirds annually, the Cheyenne Bottoms Preserve is an essential migration point in the Western Hemisphere, a wetlands home of the Central Flyways.
Unfortunately, “unregulated hunting, predators, human disturbance, habitat loss, and climate change threaten these birds' survival.” Although numerous plants and animals face conservation challenges, the beauty of the diverse wildlife population remains etched in the reader’s mind. Ceremonial courting and instinctive and protective behaviors are evident in this story geared for various ages, interests, and abilities.
Complete with science literacy, accurate descriptions, a helpful glossary, and authentic photography, Ava is accented with personification, onomatopoeia, energetic vocabulary, and inviting color. The distinct plants and animals of the freshwater marsh and upland grass captivate birds in their journey from Mexico through Texas and Oklahoma to Kansas then onward north as far as Canada.
Onalee Nicklin’s precise and artistic depiction of animals in their thriving reservoir enhances the story. Her detailed illustrations engage the reader with a creative complexity. Kern and Nicklin’s combined efforts portray shorebirds in their remarkable environment. “More than a bird’s eye view,” Ava is recommended for those intrigued by ecosystems, estuaries, flora, fauna, and migration. This important nature story compels respect for all living landscapes.
Respectfully submitted,
Carmaine Ternes
Librarian, Author, Editor, Presenter
“A child who reads will be an adult who thinks!”
Carmaine Ternes is a member of Kansas Authors Club from Wichita.
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