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The Nest That Wren Built
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Nature lovers and poetry fans alike will be drawn to this lyrical picture book depicting how Carolina wrens build a nest for their young.
This is the bark, snippets of twine,
spidery rootlets, and needles of pine
that shape the nest that Wren built.
In the rhyming style of "The House That Jack Built," this poem about the care and specificity that Carolina wrens put into build ...more
This is the bark, snippets of twine,
spidery rootlets, and needles of pine
that shape the nest that Wren built.
In the rhyming style of "The House That Jack Built," this poem about the care and specificity that Carolina wrens put into build ...more
Hardcover, 32 pages
Published
March 10th 2020
by Candlewick Press
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This beautiful, detailed picture book uses great vocabulary and the rhythmic cadence of The House That Jack Built (but it's not cumulative, so it doesn't get super long and wordy) to show a family of wrens building a nest, laying eggs, and raising chicks. I appreciate the amount of detail that's involved in showing the different types of materials the wrens use for their nest. This is a fabulous nature picture book, great for teaching about birds.
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In this gorgeous poetic nonfiction picture book we confront the familiar rhyming text (in the manner of The House That Jack Built) which concludes each page with “…the nest that Wren built.” This book is an outstanding addition to either the study of birds/Wrens or of life cycles, and will be especially perfect for spring time. The back matter finishes the book with an illustrated glossary followed by a page full of Wren Facts. The soft, detailed illustrations in this book were done in ink and c
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Gorgeous Illustrations; Informative, Whimsy
Nature lovers and poetry fans alike will be drawn to this lyrical picture book depicting how Carolina wrens build a nest for their young.
This is the bark, snippets of twine,
spidery rootlets, and needles of pine
that shape the nest that Wren built.
In the rhyming style of “The House That Jack Built,” this poem about the care and specificity that Carolina wrens put into building a nest is at once tender and true to life. Papa and Mama Wren gather treasures ...more
Nature lovers and poetry fans alike will be drawn to this lyrical picture book depicting how Carolina wrens build a nest for their young.
This is the bark, snippets of twine,
spidery rootlets, and needles of pine
that shape the nest that Wren built.
In the rhyming style of “The House That Jack Built,” this poem about the care and specificity that Carolina wrens put into building a nest is at once tender and true to life. Papa and Mama Wren gather treasures ...more

A familiar rhyme with an ornithological twist!
A soothing and beautiful book in both words and pictures. The Nest that Wren Built is a lyrical journey of how Carolina Wrens build their nests and nourish their fledglings until they are ready to fly on their own, based on the familiar nursery rhyme, The House that Jack Built. Sonenshine’s poetry is lyrical and evocative and perfectly expresses the care and particulars of wrens building a nest – from the soft moss lining the nest to the snakeskin de ...more
A soothing and beautiful book in both words and pictures. The Nest that Wren Built is a lyrical journey of how Carolina Wrens build their nests and nourish their fledglings until they are ready to fly on their own, based on the familiar nursery rhyme, The House that Jack Built. Sonenshine’s poetry is lyrical and evocative and perfectly expresses the care and particulars of wrens building a nest – from the soft moss lining the nest to the snakeskin de ...more

A gorgeous cumulative text in the style of "The House that Jack Built," this picture book allows us to accompany the mama and papa wrens as they craft their lovely nest. Readers will delight in learning all of the nest "ingredients" and will be fascinated by the lovely illustrations. A must-have for all nature lovers, this book belongs in homes, libraries, and classrooms.
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Modifying the structure of the familiar rhyme THE HOUSE THAT JACK BUILT, in a way more akin to Susanna Leonard Hill's THE ROAD THAT TRUCKS BUILT (i.e. not entirely cumulative), Randi Sonenshine merely repeats the line - "the nest that Wren built" - in each rhyming stanza. Fun facts and enchanting phrases ("softer than suede," "persnickety burr," & "scrawny and thin") accompany gorgeous, earth-toned illustrations of wrens building a nest and raising their young. It's a book that will be enjoyed o
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This is much more than just another twist on THE HOUSE THAT JACK BUILT. The nest-making process for wrens is described in lilting, lyrical text, with image-rich words and illustrated with natural and neutral media that encourage careful observation.

This gorgeous lyrical story about the industrious and ingenious Carolina wrens will enchant readers of every age. Carolina wrens are extremely resourceful when creating their nests. They go to great lengths and awe-inspiring care to provide a loving home to their young. Hunter’s warm and tender illustrations compliment Sonenshine’s deft and poetic words that dance across the pages in rhyme reminiscent of The House that Jack Built. Themes of kindness, resourcefulness, and love of family are prese
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Oh, what a treasure, especially for these Spring days! This is a gentle, lyrical story inspired by "The House that Jack Built" that beautifully shares the story of a Wren family. The illustrations are soft and tender and lovingly show these birds in relationship with their environment. We found this to be a creative and engaging way to explore a nonfiction topic. My children especially appreciated the extra facts at the end of the book. Thank you, Ms. Sonenshine.
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Don't overlook this quiet book in its brown and cream tones! it is truly outstanding and like its small subject, full of surprises and energy.
Sonenshine's poetic text is in the style of The House That Jack Built and it is a real pleasure to read aloud with a pleasing cadence, wonderful word choices and rhymes that flow naturally with nothing forced. The story is of two Carolina Wrens who build a nest and raise a family and I was so impressed with the amount of information that was incorporated ...more
Sonenshine's poetic text is in the style of The House That Jack Built and it is a real pleasure to read aloud with a pleasing cadence, wonderful word choices and rhymes that flow naturally with nothing forced. The story is of two Carolina Wrens who build a nest and raise a family and I was so impressed with the amount of information that was incorporated ...more

See my full review here: https://www.yabookscentral.com/kidsno...
THE NEST THAT WREN BUILT is a lovely journey through the process of building a nest to hatchlings who leave the nest. The book uses poetic language to describe the many steps along the way from twigs to spider egg sacks to snakeskin to tufts of rabbits fur and beyond. The book takes on an educational element in describing the things included in the nest as well as the reasons for their inclusion. The end of the book includes intere ...more
THE NEST THAT WREN BUILT is a lovely journey through the process of building a nest to hatchlings who leave the nest. The book uses poetic language to describe the many steps along the way from twigs to spider egg sacks to snakeskin to tufts of rabbits fur and beyond. The book takes on an educational element in describing the things included in the nest as well as the reasons for their inclusion. The end of the book includes intere ...more

This is beautiful storytelling from beginning to end! Each page nests lyrical words and gentle illustrations. The reader can follow the journey of two wrens, Papa and Mama, as they work diligently to gather materials for their nest. I loved learning about the different items these birds use to build their home with, from rabbit fur tufts to snake skin. The “Wren Facts” included at the end of the book are a fun edition. The construction process is so fascinating, kids will enjoy reading this stor
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Carolina wrens build a nest in a rhyming narrative in the style of "The House That Jack Built."
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Sonenshine's lyrical, descriptive narrative paired with Hunter's earthy-toned, gorgeous illustrations combine seamlessly to create in readers a newfound appreciation for wrens and their nest-building rituals and skills. From twigs to bark to leaves and moss, it's as if the reader is building the nest step-by-step beside the wrens. As the eggs hatch and the fledglings grow, the themes of home and family resonate across the pages. Don't skip the back matter. It includes an informative glossary as
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We already know from the title what this book will be about, and as the story unfolds, the wren couple builds their nest piece-by-interesting-piece. This is further supplemented by enlightening back matter. I found it fascinating and children will too. The rhyming cumulative text is stunning and makes this a great read-aloud for younger children who will want parents to read it over and over again. The detailed illustrations suit the subject matter and story perfectly, encouraging children to po
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The gentle illustrations and poetical writing of this book (in the style of "This Is the House that Jack Built" without the lengthy cumulative wordiness) invite nature lovers to examine the nesting habits of the Carolina wren. Tender details are included in both text and picture. Back matter gives more fascinating information about the habits of Carolina wrens.
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In a cumulative tale, the author, and here in a picture book, the illustrator, must repeat and repeat. This time, in Randi Sonenshine's spring story, clever and subtle changes in that same rhyme swing us readers through the story wonderfully. Papa Wren begins the construction with "These are the twigs, dried in the sun,/that Papa collected one by one/to cradle the nest that Wren built." I admire Randi's ability to keep that favorite rhyme, yet build the nest part by part, just as wrens out in o
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Deserves every star it’s earned and maybe a few more! This is a stellar example of how non-fiction should engage the reader. Sonenshine’s lyrical prose has a wonderful beat that takes the reader from the first twig to the baby birds leaving The Nest That Wren Built. Absolutely brilliant. Oh, and there’s a little treasure hidden on each page. Can you find it?

A beautiful story of how a wren builds a nest - all told in the wonderful way of "This is the house that Jack built." The illustrations are life-like and splendid. It's a fun new take on an old traditional tale.
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Built off the house that jack built poem, the poems are spot on and the information is good, such rich detailed illustrations.

Who knew that reading about Carolina wrens could be such a treat? Randi Sonenshine, that's who. I love everything about this book, the soft illustrations with their muted palette, the absolutely divine lyrical text, even the back matter pulled me in! Fascinating details about the construction of the nest such as the use of snakeskin as a charm for protection, and spider sacs and fur plucked from a persnickety burr, all add to the delight of this reading experience. Can't recommend The Nest That
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Details Carolina Wrens building their nest and raising young to the familiar lilting rhyme of "This is the House That Jack Built".
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This gorgeous picture book introduces the art and skill of building a wren nest. Told in a folktale style, the book follows a Wren building her nest in a tree. Papa wren brings sticks, then twine, pine needles and small roots are added. A spider sac will help with keeping the mites eaten and a snakeskin wards off predators. Soft moss is gathered from the shade as well as feathers, petals and thread to make a soft bed. In this beautiful nest, eggs are laid and soon hatch, emerge onto branches, an
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Nature lovers will enjoy this sweet springtime book about Carolina wrens. A mama and papa wren prepare a nest for the newborn hatchlings about to arrive. Papa hunts for food for the newborn once the hatchlings arrive so that they are strong enough to fledge in just 14 days after their birth.
Although this book uses some words that might be unfamiliar to a PRE-K-7 year old: rootling, fledgling, burr, spider sac and more, there is a nice glossary at the end of the book with some fun facts about wr ...more
Although this book uses some words that might be unfamiliar to a PRE-K-7 year old: rootling, fledgling, burr, spider sac and more, there is a nice glossary at the end of the book with some fun facts about wr ...more

This title is the author’s picture book debut title. Written in rhyming text the process of a wren building a nest is well described. This picture book even has a glossary where the meanings of hatchling, nestling, and fledgling are succinctly defined. The best part of the title is the lush illustrations done in subdued shades of green and brown with most of the page backgrounds in a beautiful deep cream color just like the breast of a Carolina wren. This would make a beautiful Caldecott award t
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In imitation of the classic poem “The House That Jack Built,” this book’s text begins: “These are the twigs, dried in the sun,/that papa collected one by one/to cradle the nest that Wren built.” The rhythmic tone continues in the text while on each page a different natural scene unfolds. More and more elements are added to the nest—even a snakeskin and rabbit’s fur—and the parent wrens watch over their growing brood.
The endnotes include a glossary and Wren facts. This is a perfect book for youn ...more
The endnotes include a glossary and Wren facts. This is a perfect book for youn ...more
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