K-Gr 3--Beginning with the attention-grabbing thesis statement, "Birds don't just fly," Kaner presents the many other ways birds move as part of their day-to-day lives. There are familiar examples (penguin, duck, owl) as well as more exotic species (jacana, kakapo, phalarope). Each entry stresses the form and function of a particular movement, be it a slide for speed, a dive for dinner, or a dance for romance. Steube's cool-tone illustrations--pencil and watercolor, digitally enhanced--strike the perfect balance between accurate depiction of scientific detail and subtle anthropomorphism of the birds' natural charisma. VERDICT A thoughtful and entertaining informational text on avian behavior, suitable for all collections.--Jonah Dragan

Birds are known for flight, but they are capable of so many other amazing movements: they walk and run and dive, of course, but some of their other actions are hilariously unexpected. Adélie penguins toboggan through the snow, phalaropes spin in the water to whip up a snack, and birds-of-paradise dance wildly to attract a mate. There's an equal amount of variety in the species, covering all climates and corners of the world. Steube's pencil-and-watercolor illustrations are a riot of movement and color, marvelously conveying the exuberance of a mating dance or sneakiness of an egret stalking its prey; the exaggerated avian expressions are incredibly amusing. Each spread gives a snappy summation ("birds dig / birds dabble") in large text, while a smaller paragraph offers a more in-depth description, making the book accessible to a wider range of ages. It's a thrill to meet a flock of lesser-known birds, marvel at their movement, and struggle to pick a new favorite from the beautiful bunch.