15 Delightful Bird Books For Kids

Poetry and science come together in this picture book about twelve birds and their unique ways of flying. It pairs beautiful lyricism with imagery of birds wheeling, mobbing, and skeining. The book is perfect for young readers learning about the quirky and mesmerizing qualities of birds for the first time.

This book about birds and their feathers is not only a feast for the eyes but for the inquisitive mind as well. What are feathers made of and why do birds have so many of them? How do they help birds fly? Answers are here alongside stunning illustrations to satiate young readers’ curiosity.

A wonderful introduction to the delightful hummingbird with its jewel-like beauty and body as light as a nickel. Follow the tiny bird from Central America to Central Park in this picture book.

A 2014 Sibert Honor book, this is an excellent title to inspire those who want to go bird-watching and to encourage those who already do. Look Up! is filled with humor and personality as the author shows budding bird-watchers the hilarious and entertaining characters that can be found right in their backyards.

This picture book chronicles the life of John Audubon, whose lifelong love for birds and careful observations gave us the scientific foundations for understanding these creatures and their patterns. The biography inspires and informs young ornithologists to follow in his footsteps.

This rhyming picture book takes after the style of “The House that Jack Built.” The poem depicts two wrens building their nest with soft moss and unexpected things like snakeskins. The book is lyrical yet informative.

If your little one loves counting books and birds, this is the perfect picture book for them. It begins with one dark bird perched high, then two, three, and four, until hundreds are there in the sky avoiding a hawk together in one of the best tricks of the animal kingdom.

This sweet picture book captures a baby bird’s first flight. From fearful and clumsy beginnings to triumphant flight, this book will captivate youngsters.

This is the legend of how the hermit thrush got its song. In this Mohawk tale, readers imagine a time when birds had no songs and the Great Spirit heard only silence on the Earth. He would reward a beautiful song to the bird who could fly the highest. Read more to find out why the hermit thrush has such a beautiful song but never shows itself.

In this sweet picture book, Granddad takes Jess birdwatching. While “nothing” happens at first, eventually they begin to encounter nature. This book captures a lovely intergenerational bond and shows the magic that comes through patient observation.

A story of friendship between a young girl and an elderly artist, this picture book captures the changing seasons, the shared love for birds and art, and the loss that comes with life. Award-winning Cree-Métis author Julie Flett tells a subtle and profound story.

In this middle grade novel set in contemporary rural India, Asha must travel across the Himalayas to find her missing father. She follows a mythical bird and tiger, the spirits of her guiding ancestors, ultimately to save her family’s home.

In this powerful story told in the tradition of American Black folktales, two siblings enslaved on a plantation take courage from a mysterious bird to escape to freedom.

“Once there was a pig who admired birds…” And so begins this picture book about those who have ever dared to dream big. This book is not just a book about birds and all the hopes and aspirations they represent, but it is also about the humble pig who knew he wasn’t a bird but nevertheless determined that he would learn to fly.

In this beloved picture book, Humpty Dumpty gets back up again (and more!). Readers will love the end when they see who Humpty Dumpty, the fallen egg, was really meant to be.