Clever Crow by Chris Butterworth illustrated by Olivia Lomenech Gill

I am awarding this book first prize for cover design and oh my goodness you will love the end papers in this book - eggs of all colours and patterns at the front with little scientific old fashioned typed labels and at the back you can see the adult birds - all the different types of crows! 

This book combines a brief lyrical text with smaller font facts about this fascinating bird - the crow. Here are a few interesting facts:

• There are over 100 types of birds in the crow family
• Ravens are the biggest crows
• Scientists think crows might be the smartest of all birds - their skull holds a very big brain

Crows are incredibly smart and adaptable birds, capable of problem-solving, mimicking sounds, and forming lifelong bonds with their mates. They have a diverse diet and are known for their mischievous behavior. Crows have a complex social structure, with large groups called “murders” and a unique flying style. They are associated with folklore and mythology,and are highly protective of their territory. Fifteen facts about Crows

Read here about crows in Australia.

Look at these names - they are all from the crow (Corvid) family: Blue Jay; Rook; Jackdaw; Nutcracker; Chough; Magpie; Eurasian Jay and Rufous Treepie. 

Here are some quotes from the lyrical text:

"Wherever you are right now, there's sure to be a crow to two not far away."

"Crows are easy to spot, but they're also easy to miss, too."

"And crows are not fantastic fliers - they don't zoom like arrows or soar like kites. Crows just flap steadily on."

"Crows croak or caw instead of singing. They sound like birds with very soar throats!"

This is not mentioned in this book, but I thought about the way in many cultures, crows are seen as symbols of death or bad omens, while in others they are seen as symbols of intelligence or good luck. In Greek mythology, the crow is associated with Apollo, the god of prophecy and divination. The crow was believed to be a messenger of the gods and was often depicted carrying messages between the mortal and spiritual realms. In Native American mythology, crows are often seen as tricksters and are revered for their intelligence and resourcefulness. In many cultures, the crow is also seen as a symbol of death and is often associated with the aftermath of battle or with cemeteries. From birdsadvice

Gill’s standout mixed-media illustrations feature individual and group portraits of numerous crows and crow cousins, stylishly rendered in fine, exact detail. These visuals, along with a gallery of eggs, will draw the eye first, but young audiences will find Butterworth’s rapturous observations, delivered in multiple sizes of type, likewise worth lingering over. Kirkus

There is one important thing missing from this book - which is odd. I read that is part of the wonderful series Nature Storybooks (every school library should aim to collect ALL of these) but nowhere on this book does that label appeal - I wonder why. This series used to be called Read and Wonder.

Chris Butterworth is the author of over seventy books, mostly non-fiction, and has written on subjects as diverse as disasters, hiccoughs, basketball and snakes. She has written a number of non-fiction titles for Walker, including The Things that I LOVE about TREES, illustrated by Charlotte Voake, Where Do Clothes Come From? and the winner of the American Farm Bureau's Book of the Year, Lunchbox: The Story of Your Food, both illustrated Lucia Gaggiotti.

Olivia Lomenech Gill is a fine artist and illustrator. She worked with Michael and Clare Morpurgo on Where My Wellies Take Me, shortlisted for the Kate Greenaway medal, illustrated the new edition of J. K. Rowling's Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them and, most recently, Medusa, written by Jessie Burton.