You and the Bowerbird
on Goodreads (76)
What’s inside...
Follow the Satin Bowerbird as he searches for the perfect welcome mat for his new home in this delightfully colorful and action-packed nonfiction tale by award-winning author Maria Gianferrari, and illustrated by comic-star Maris Wicks. Just on the edge of the rainforest, between your house and the trees, Bowerbirds collect, pillage, and steal! They swoop through the air, and creep around the forest floor, searching for pretty objects everywhere.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
4-8
Length
48 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What do you think the bowerbird was feeling when it was building its nest?
Why do you think the bowerbird collects such colorful objects?
How do you think the story would change if the bowerbird met another animal friend?
What did you learn about how bowerbirds live?
If you were a bowerbird, what kind of objects would you collect for your nest?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to express their thoughts and feelings about the bowerbird's actions, fostering empathy and understanding.
Discuss the importance of hard work and dedication shown by the bowerbird in collecting objects and building the nest.
Relate the bowerbird's story to your child’s experiences of collecting or making something special, to personalize the story’s themes.
Ask your child to imagine what it’s like to be a bowerbird and think about the environment from the perspective of the bowerbird to enhance their creative and analytical thinking.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Empathy and Understanding
Explanation: In 'You and the Bowerbird,' the relationship between the bowerbird and its environment teaches children about empathy by showing how the bird cares for its surroundings.
Real-World Application: Children can apply this lesson by learning to understand and care about the feelings and well-being of others around them, whether it's people, animals, or their environment.
Example Lesson: Creativity and Expression
Explanation: The bowerbird's unique way of building and decorating its bower using colorful objects showcases the beauty of creative expression.
Real-World Application: This encourages children to explore their own creativity in various forms like art, building, or storytelling, and express themselves in their unique way.
Example Lesson: Resourcefulness and Problem-Solving
Explanation: The story demonstrates how the bowerbird uses available resources to construct its bower, teaching children the importance of using what they have to solve problems.
Real-World Application: Kids can learn to be resourceful by making the best use of available resources and coming up with solutions to obstacles they face in daily activities or school projects.
Example Lesson: Importance of Patience and Perseverance
Explanation: Building a bower is not an easy task; it requires patience and perseverance, traits that are emphasized through the bowerbird’s diligent efforts.
Real-World Application: This can teach children the value of staying patient and persistent in achieving their goals, whether it's finishing a complex puzzle, learning a new skill, or improving in a sport.
Example Lesson: Appreciation of Nature
Explanation: Through the bowerbird’s interaction with its natural habitat, the book fosters a love for and appreciation of the natural world.
Real-World Application: Children can be encouraged to explore the outdoors, engage in activities like bird watching or hiking, and learn to appreciate the beauty and importance of nature and wildlife conservation.