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Paws, Fins, Feathers, Claws
On the Wing
"Poetry flutters across the pages of this lovely book. . . . Each poem is witty and thoughtful and enlivens its subject. . . . Every bird seems to come alive." -- School Library Journal (starred review)
Take to the sky to explore a glorious array of all things avian, from the tiny, restless hummingbird to the inscrutable horned owl to the majestic bald eagle. David Elliott and Becca Stadtlander bestow a sense of wonder onto such common birdfeeder visitors as the sparrow, the crow, and the cardinal and capture the exotic beauty of far-flung fowl like the Andean condor, the Australian pelican, and the Caribbean flamingo.
Take to the sky to explore a glorious array of all things avian, from the tiny, restless hummingbird to the inscrutable horned owl to the majestic bald eagle. David Elliott and Becca Stadtlander bestow a sense of wonder onto such common birdfeeder visitors as the sparrow, the crow, and the cardinal and capture the exotic beauty of far-flung fowl like the Andean condor, the Australian pelican, and the Caribbean flamingo.
32 pages, Paperback
First published September 9, 2014
About the author
David Elliott
220 books183 followersDavid Elliott is the author of THE COOL CRAZY CRICKETS and THE TRANSMOGRIFICATION OF ROSCOE WIZZLE. He says of AND HERE'S TO YOU!, "My neighbor’s rooster and I were having a disagreement. I wanted to sleep in the morning; he wanted to crow. The rooster won, of course. The first verse of AND HERE'S TO YOU! is a tribute to his victory and to the joys found in simply following your nature."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 87 reviews
March 28, 2021
The Grade 2 students that I read this book to and I all agree that the words used in the poems about various birds found around the world were well-chosen and the illustrations were beautiful!
Because some of the students have family in Newfoundland, they liked the puffin best, because it's the provincial bird of that Canadian province. The great horned owl (Alberta's provincial bird) is also included! My personal favorite in this book? It would have to be the hummingbird - the text design and vibrant colors depicting these tiny, quick-darting birds are delightful!
Because some of the students have family in Newfoundland, they liked the puffin best, because it's the provincial bird of that Canadian province. The great horned owl (Alberta's provincial bird) is also included! My personal favorite in this book? It would have to be the hummingbird - the text design and vibrant colors depicting these tiny, quick-darting birds are delightful!
February 22, 2021
Poetry about 15 different bird species, accompanied by very beautiful illustrations. The book description accurately states these poems are clever and concise. I appreciated how these poems could be read to a small child but still had something worthwhile to say to the adult. This is just the sort of book my children loved when they were small. The poetry had a lovely rhythm to it which makes it enjoyable for a repeated read. Beautiful and poignant.
Read on open library
Read on open library
February 22, 2021
Sixteen brief but clever poems about birds from author David Elliott are paired with gorgeous illustrations from Becca Stadtlander in this lovely little picture-book. From the fluttering hummingbird to the fiery flamingo, the oddball Australian pelican to the symbolic bald eagle, the avian life profiled here is as distinctive as it is beautiful...
I initially sought out On the Wing because I recently read and greatly enjoyed Sleep Tight Farm: A Farm Prepares for Winter , and wanted to find more of illustrator Becca Stadtlander's work. It certainly rewarded me, from a visual stand-point, as I found her gouache illustrations here absolutely gorgeous. It's amazing to think that this was her debut, as a picture-book illustrator! That said, I was also rewarded textually, finding the poems quite cleverly done, and often thought-provoking. One of my favorites addressed the Andean condor, reading: "You watched the ancient empires / come, then go. / How and why they vanished - / a secret that you know. / Is it your knowledge of this mystery / that we fear? / Or that one day we, too / might disappear?" Recommended to young bird lovers and picture-book poetry readers.
I initially sought out On the Wing because I recently read and greatly enjoyed Sleep Tight Farm: A Farm Prepares for Winter , and wanted to find more of illustrator Becca Stadtlander's work. It certainly rewarded me, from a visual stand-point, as I found her gouache illustrations here absolutely gorgeous. It's amazing to think that this was her debut, as a picture-book illustrator! That said, I was also rewarded textually, finding the poems quite cleverly done, and often thought-provoking. One of my favorites addressed the Andean condor, reading: "You watched the ancient empires / come, then go. / How and why they vanished - / a secret that you know. / Is it your knowledge of this mystery / that we fear? / Or that one day we, too / might disappear?" Recommended to young bird lovers and picture-book poetry readers.
September 8, 2015
Some of these poems seem rather deep (especially the one about the Condor). Beautiful pictures, the prose with subtle rhyme and sometimes only the barest of words...this whole book sings. A delight to read!
January 14, 2020
The layout grabbed me right off: beautiful illustrations and the arrangement of the text. In "The Hummingbird the text seems to flit around like little hummingbirds.
Each poem seems to highlight an essential characteristic of the bird.
Each poem seems to highlight an essential characteristic of the bird.
February 14, 2016
David Elliott's poetry combined with Becca Stadtlander's stunning paintings makes this a beautiful book to have in your classroom library. This book celebrates the lovable features of fifteen different birds. I think this is a terrific mentor text for celebrating simple things (birds) with lovely verse.
August 27, 2016
Short, simple, clever poems accompanied by accurate illustrations.
April 1, 2015
Another fabulous poetry collection by David Elliott. I'll confess birds don't interest me AS much as the animals in his WILD and SEA collections, but he does bring them to life beautifully with his fabulous metaphors and word choices.
I miss Holly Meade's art, though Becca Stadtlander does a good job. For me, though, the poems themselves are definitely the star.
I miss Holly Meade's art, though Becca Stadtlander does a good job. For me, though, the poems themselves are definitely the star.
December 31, 2014
Wonderful illustrations.
Some poems stronger than others.
Perfect one: The Japanese Crane
What music do they hear
that makes them flutter so?
It's early spring;
the cranes are dancing,
dancing in the snow.
(love the illustration too!)
Some poems stronger than others.
Perfect one: The Japanese Crane
What music do they hear
that makes them flutter so?
It's early spring;
the cranes are dancing,
dancing in the snow.
(love the illustration too!)
June 11, 2021
I've decided to do a spotlight on David Elliot because I loved his YA poetry re-tellings so much. What did I think about this picture book? I liked this one better than 'On the Farm'. It might be because this is a book for a older audience. Gorgeous illustrations by Becca Stadtlander. If you like birds or your child likes birds this is great for any collection. The book starts off with 'The Hummingbird', I loved that the stanza's fluttered across the page. It would have been cool to see that for all the different birds, but that might have been difficult. Some of the birds described in this book have great metaphors that small children might not understand, but I loved it. It's always beneficial to talk about what we read with our children even if they might not comprehend it. It gives them new vocabulary. The 'Caribbean Flamingo' was a great poem.
"Singular...
an ember
waiting
to ignite.
In multitude...
a conflagration!
The sky is set
alight!"
Lots of stuff to talk about with your child or student. What the poem means. What Conflagration is. Very cool.
I said in my review of 'On the Farm', David missed an opportunity to say udderly amazing for the cow. In this book, David did not disappoint. For 'The Crow', David writes "caw-caw-phony." YAY for puns.
More great imagery from 'The Great Horned Owl', "Night slips on his velvet cowl, and in it hides the hungry owl." 'The Wandering Albatross', "...guiding the untethered souls of lost sailors home through the winds of the measureless sky." Beautiful...chef's kiss.
Not all the poems were amazing. But that is personal. Everyone has their own opinion to how a poem speaks to them. Overall I really liked this book.
Candlewick Press has designed a teacher's guide for this book series that includes lesson plans and worksheets that align with the core standards for grades 1-4. You can download these plans and worksheets for free if you contact the author. I LOVE THAT! As a 3rd grade teacher, I might utilize this opportunity in the coming 2021-2022 school year.
On to the next one...
"Singular...
an ember
waiting
to ignite.
In multitude...
a conflagration!
The sky is set
alight!"
Lots of stuff to talk about with your child or student. What the poem means. What Conflagration is. Very cool.
I said in my review of 'On the Farm', David missed an opportunity to say udderly amazing for the cow. In this book, David did not disappoint. For 'The Crow', David writes "caw-caw-phony." YAY for puns.
More great imagery from 'The Great Horned Owl', "Night slips on his velvet cowl, and in it hides the hungry owl." 'The Wandering Albatross', "...guiding the untethered souls of lost sailors home through the winds of the measureless sky." Beautiful...chef's kiss.
Not all the poems were amazing. But that is personal. Everyone has their own opinion to how a poem speaks to them. Overall I really liked this book.
Candlewick Press has designed a teacher's guide for this book series that includes lesson plans and worksheets that align with the core standards for grades 1-4. You can download these plans and worksheets for free if you contact the author. I LOVE THAT! As a 3rd grade teacher, I might utilize this opportunity in the coming 2021-2022 school year.
On to the next one...
April 22, 2017
I keep returning to David Elliott's books about nature over and over again. From On the Farm, In the Wild, and In the Sea, my young readers learned about nature and poetry together. Now they can do the same with On the Wing. In this collection of 16 poems, Elliot celebrates a wide variety of birds. The poems range from playful to serious, but all catch the essence of each individual birds. Pair this with Elliott's other books to give young readers a nice rounded poetic picture of nature and its beauty in our world. Stadtlander's beautiful realistic gouache illustrations place each bird in to natural habitat, and extend the poetic mood. With only two exceptions, each bird/poem pairing is spread over a double page. Kids are sure to develop a beginning appreciation for the avian world after reading On the Wing.
September 19, 2024
***Actual Star Rating: 2.5 Stars***
On the Wing is a book about various birds which doesn't seem to have any rhyme or reason for its selection. The birds come from all over and are just basic representation of a generic species as a whole while not focusing on subspecies.
The text is provided in poetry format - mostly freeform. Some of it includes some educational blurb but most is mainly a small narrative with a thought to the reader.
The reason I give this book a .5 star rating is I do like the artwork. They are a bit dark colored but the details are beautiful and the birds wonderfully portrayed in their art medium.
The book may work as a great starter book to young readers about various birds but it very likely won't keep their attention for long.
On the Wing is a book about various birds which doesn't seem to have any rhyme or reason for its selection. The birds come from all over and are just basic representation of a generic species as a whole while not focusing on subspecies.
The text is provided in poetry format - mostly freeform. Some of it includes some educational blurb but most is mainly a small narrative with a thought to the reader.
The reason I give this book a .5 star rating is I do like the artwork. They are a bit dark colored but the details are beautiful and the birds wonderfully portrayed in their art medium.
The book may work as a great starter book to young readers about various birds but it very likely won't keep their attention for long.
August 30, 2022
This was very nice. Many books of children’s poetry can be overly simplistic or downright silly. This was neither and the pictures flowed with the words in a beautiful way.
October 15, 2015
Plot Summary:
If you are a fan of poetry that uses witty words and fantastic vocabulary then On the Wing is an ideal read. In the classroom this book will engage its readers and leave them wanting more. Each page of the book deals with a different species of bird. The poems are often that of a description of the physical and behavioral characteristics of each species. These short poems are full of descriptive pieces about many avian varieties. This alone is enough to engage the reader.
Literary Merit:
This book uses a solid combination of illustrations, as well as highly descriptive words and creative language to gracefully discuss each species of bird. One valuable piece of this book is its rich use in vocabulary. Reading this book allows the reader's creative mind to wander, as the author effectively and effortlessly uses a variety of descriptive words that are often less heard. In "The Crow" the author writes "Your cunning and your confidence are wonderful to see, but your singing voice, my friend, is pure caw-caw-phony". This choice of wording not only describes the crow as a species, but also uses a pun that relates the crow to a lesser known word of cacophony. This interrelation of words is found throughout this book, and provides a rich reading experience.
Genre Considerations:
Each poem is very short, yet very well put together. As the poems correlate to a species of bird, the vividly accurate illustrations mirror the wording on the page. This captivates the reader both through the vibrant usage of language, as well as the accurately depictive watercolors on every page.
Reader Response/Classroom Connections:
This is a book that I can imagine using in many ways in an elementary classroom. The students could use the poems as inspiration to write their own descriptive poetry about things they are learning in science class. The author uses a variety of descriptive words that are not found in common everyday language as well. This would enable this poetry book to be used in furthering vocabulary development in the classroom by doing a word study on descriptive words. The students could then write their own poetry with the use of a thesaurus to find new ways to make similar poems.
If you are a fan of poetry that uses witty words and fantastic vocabulary then On the Wing is an ideal read. In the classroom this book will engage its readers and leave them wanting more. Each page of the book deals with a different species of bird. The poems are often that of a description of the physical and behavioral characteristics of each species. These short poems are full of descriptive pieces about many avian varieties. This alone is enough to engage the reader.
Literary Merit:
This book uses a solid combination of illustrations, as well as highly descriptive words and creative language to gracefully discuss each species of bird. One valuable piece of this book is its rich use in vocabulary. Reading this book allows the reader's creative mind to wander, as the author effectively and effortlessly uses a variety of descriptive words that are often less heard. In "The Crow" the author writes "Your cunning and your confidence are wonderful to see, but your singing voice, my friend, is pure caw-caw-phony". This choice of wording not only describes the crow as a species, but also uses a pun that relates the crow to a lesser known word of cacophony. This interrelation of words is found throughout this book, and provides a rich reading experience.
Genre Considerations:
Each poem is very short, yet very well put together. As the poems correlate to a species of bird, the vividly accurate illustrations mirror the wording on the page. This captivates the reader both through the vibrant usage of language, as well as the accurately depictive watercolors on every page.
Reader Response/Classroom Connections:
This is a book that I can imagine using in many ways in an elementary classroom. The students could use the poems as inspiration to write their own descriptive poetry about things they are learning in science class. The author uses a variety of descriptive words that are not found in common everyday language as well. This would enable this poetry book to be used in furthering vocabulary development in the classroom by doing a word study on descriptive words. The students could then write their own poetry with the use of a thesaurus to find new ways to make similar poems.
March 13, 2015
Birds of a feather (or their fans) will flock together in admiration of the sixteen poems in this book celebrating various denizens of the air. Some of the poems such as "The Macaw" and "The Puffin" capture the uniqueness of their subjects succinctly while others such as "The Bowerbird" distill the essence of the bird with perfectly-chosen words: "Nature's fussy, / lovesick architect" (unpaged). Another marvelous poem "The Cardinal" contrast the vividness colors of the male ["He's a hotshot Valentine" (unpaged)] to the drabness of the female ["She's a plain Jane" (unpaged)]. The gouache illustrations are stunning in every respect, providing a visual feast while the poems appeal to the ear and soul as well. Add this one to your classroom poetry or science shelf alongside the poet's On the Farm, In the Wild, and In the Sea, and watch them wing its way from your shelves.
Read
April 15, 2015Elliott's poems are illustrated in this book by first-time picture book artist, Becca Stadtlander. Here, the 16 poems included are all about different kinds of birds such as the bald eagle, the hummingbird, the Caribbean flamingo, the Australian pelican, and the great horned owl. In free verse the avian-inspired poems are short and sweet and meant to be read aloud. Take the concise poem entitled, “The Puffin.” “The puffin/is unique–especially/it’s beak.” Or how about “The Macaw” verse: “The Macaw/Who spilled the paint?” I can just hear kids laughing at that one when they see the colorful gouache illustration of this particular bird. All of the pictures are a double-spread design and the print is large for young readers to read on their own. The artwork for the cardinal poem and the Japanese cranes poem are particularly lovely.
September 27, 2015
Even if you're not a birdwatcher, a bird-listener, or any other type of bird enthusiast, after reading this collection of bird poems for children you will, at the very least, have newfound respect for their different personalities. David Elliott's poetry makes certain of that. His wit and wordplay combine with a detailed focus and competent understanding of avian character to create short verse that is concise, graceful, amusing, and unforgettable. Becca Stadtlander's glorious illustrations are also vivid and absorbing, as she expertly reflects the character and tone of each bird and poem. The result is an engaging collection that children will ask for again and again.
November 25, 2014
Another great collection of poems from David Elliott. Some poems are only a few words while others are longer, but they all work to describe the variety of birds depicted. From the caw-caw-phony of the crow, to the spilled paint of the macaw and small cousin of the tyrannosaur (sparrow), the poems are delightful and introduce aspects of the birds. The illustrations are a mixed bag. Maybe I just miss Elliott's collaboration with Holly Meade, but I find that some of the pages are better than others (the hummingbirds, cranes, cardinals, and bowerbirds).
May 21, 2021
I adore books/poetry about birds, and this by David Elliott, displaying the look beautifully by Becca Stadtlander is a wonderful anthology of avian word play. Think crows: “caw-caw-phony” or hummingbirds, “always in a tizzy…busy, busy, busy”. And there’s more. The variety and cleverness of each bird featured delights, touches on either the look or the behavior of each bird. It’s a good book to add to the nature collection.
July 5, 2017
A beautiful book of poetry about birds. The poet has created some wonderful word images!
I love that although this is a picture book, some of the vocabulary will challenge some of my fifth graders.
I love that although this is a picture book, some of the vocabulary will challenge some of my fifth graders.
January 4, 2015
I absolutely love the poetry and the illustrations are lovely. Favorite - The Cardinal
He's a hotshot
valentin.
She's a Plain Jane.
But one without
the other . . .
a song with no refrain.
I can see using this in any poetry unit. Lot's of different styles easy to read.
He's a hotshot
valentin.
She's a Plain Jane.
But one without
the other . . .
a song with no refrain.
I can see using this in any poetry unit. Lot's of different styles easy to read.
October 3, 2016
I thought this was the most perfect introduction to poetry for the boys. The illustrations were breathtaking, and each poem had its own personality. Some poems made them giggle, and they loved looking at the pictures. A lovely book.
October 2016
October 2016
October 25, 2014
4.5 stars. I found myself smiling while reading most of these short, sweet, and delightful poems. One or two made me laugh out loud. Add to that, the illustrations for each bird are beautiful.
November 21, 2014
gotta love a book with a poem featuring an Oriole.
January 2, 2015
Beautiful gouache illustrations accompany short poems about a variety of birds. A nice introduction for budding ornithologists.
September 30, 2018
Stunning illustrations. Strong, surprising and sometimes amusing poems about hummingbirds, cardinals, flamingos, to name a few.
March 20, 2017
Short rhyming poems about different types of birds paired with lovely illustrations make this a great book to share with students when you study poetry or any students who love reading about birds.
June 16, 2017
On the Wing is a NCTE 2015 Notable Poetry Book. This book looks at 15 different birds found in the world. With vivid illustrations of each bird that appear earthy and natural the reader reads poems on each bird all written in different poetic forms. Some poems are short, some have rhyme, and some use vivid language such as “Home through the winds of the measureless sky…” I listened to an audio of this poetry book and I really enjoyed reading and hearing the poems as I learned about each bird in a fun and informative way. It also allowed me to learn about different types of poems. The audio was great to listen to and included the noises each type of bird makes. I felt like I was outside while listening to it. I could see this poetry book being used to introduce students in the upper elementary grades to the different types of poems. It would also be great to learn about birds and then have students create their own poems about birds.
June 26, 2023
On the Wing, published in 2014 by Candlewick Press, is a beautiful book about birds. Written by David Elliott and illustrated by Becca Stadtlander, the pages capture the essence of the hummingbird, Carribbean flamingo, crow, oriole, woodpecker, Japanese crane, great horned owl, Australian pelican, macaw, wandering albatross, cardinal, Andean condor, puffin, bowerbird, blue jay, sparrow and the bald eagle, in such a way that you feel introduced to them and want to know more about them. The text is brief enough to complement the gorgeous colorful illustrations without distracting from them. I recommend this book as a read-aloud or a read-to choice.
February 23, 2020
The illustrations are wonderful, but I was underwhelmed by the poems that accompanied each bird. Most of them are only little rhymes or wordplay, and some of them (cough pelican and puffin cough) felt like the author was scraping around for ideas; but several are decent, and one I genuinely liked: "The Wandering Albatross" employed rhythm, assonance, and structure to paint a concise and vivid verbal picture. That is what poetry should be.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 87 reviews