Turnagain Ptarmigan! Where Did You Go?
PreSchool-Grade 3-This simple rhyming text explains the seasonal cycle of Alaska's state bird. The young girl asks, "Turnagain ptarmigan! Where did you go?" The willow ptarmigan responds by explaining what it is doing and how it is constantly changing plumage to serve as camouflage. An afterword provides a more detailed profile of the bird. The rhyme strains when the girl asks, "Turnagain ptarmigan! Are you having a meeting?" and her feathered friend replies, "These berries are sweet. We're over here eating." Overall, however, the tone is light and pleasing. Cartwright's realistic and close-focus artwork is interesting in composition and will stand the scrutiny of professional naturalists. Though some of the wordplay may be lost on readers outside of Alaska (the ptarmigan is continually molting, and Turnagain is the name of an arm of Cook Inlet near Anchorage), this title is an attractive choice for collections needing books on northern animals.Sue Sherif, Fairbanks North Star Borough Public Library, AKCopyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.