The Backyard Bird Chronicles

Drawings and writing are engaging. A great way to understand the life of a bird.

Clare Walker Leslie, John Muir Laws, David Allen Sibley, Annie Dillard, Jo Northrop, & Bill Bryson decide to collab on a book— well, no need, Amy Tan has taken care of it!Ms. Tan has produced a birder/naturalist’s dream in these pages. At first glance it brought back wonderful 1990’s memories of discovering Clare Walker Leslie’s work.Always one with the need to know what’s under the dust jacket, I was delighted to find the little hummer treasure with the initial “A.T.” (Photo #1)With the jacket off, it feels like an over-sized field guide one may carry about and enjoy out of doors.Even the end papers are a visual feast (Photo #2).Ms. Tan’s keen observations noted as journal entries, read much like the lovely 1980-90’s essays of Jo Northrup, but with an ornithological focus.The generous illustrations are both informative and humourous.This book fills a genre long vacant… a book one can simply enjoy as a relaxing good read, whilst still expanding one’s birding knowledge, as well as a study in illustrative technique.I’m thoroughly enjoying this literary treat! Thank you, Ms. Tan.Highly recommended!Thanks for reading,- CC, Amazon Prime Member-Reviewer

Amy Tan turns her literary brilliance, powers of observation and skills sketching and painting into a wonderful book that celebrates birds and how to open our eyes and minds to understand and engage in birdlife. The world of birds is accessible, often in our own yards or parks, and this book will help you see them. The sketches, paintings and notes are beautiful in their own right and the text is a fun way to become more enlightened about birds and their world.

Good suggestions and lots of good sketches.

I had the book sent directly to my daughter.She loves the book but because it was just sent in thin packing the book is damaged as you can see on the photo. The book was not cheap so I feel sorry about the shape it arrived in.Is there any refund possible?