Hawks Kettle, Puffins Wheel And Other Poems of Birds in Flight

Susan Vande Griek and Mark Hoffmann combine their ample talents in an engaging, entertaining, and educational collaboration entitled Hawks Kettle, Puffins Wheel and Other Poems of Birds in Flight. The book is a collection of free verse poems which describe the different ways in which birds fly. Each poem is accompanied by informational text explaining the science behind the manner of flight. Furthermore, a colourful double-page illustration depicts the bird in question. For instance, the book excerpt above is taken from the “Hummingbirds Hover” poem. That poem is accompanied by informational text that explains the “figure-eight” pattern of a hummingbird’s wing movement that enables it to be suspended in midair. That figure-eight wing pattern “creates lift from their backward and forward strokes.” Beating their wings an astonishing 70 times per second enables them to hover and drink nectar from flowers on the wing before backing away from the flower after feeding – the only bird known to fly backwards. The poem and informational text appear atop a colourful illustration showing hummingbirds flying about nectar-filled flowers.

Hoffmann’s gouache and digital media illustrations are colourful and enticing. Serious bird enthusiasts, however, will likely wish for something more detailed and of “field guide quality”, but that is not the purpose of this book. That said though, it is a visually appealing book that could certainly be used to introduce young readers to the wonderful world of birds. Elementary science classrooms will also find the book a useful introductory resource for a primary avian study. The book could also be used as an English Language Arts resource to discuss poetry. Due to the nature of poetry and the use of figurative language, it might be difficult for young readers to draw from context clues to support their comprehension of the text. The book, however, presents opportunities for language arts teaching and learning discussions to occur.

Some might suggest the vocabulary level of Hawks Kettle, Puffins Wheel is, perhaps, beyond what one might normally expect for the young intended audience. That said, however, the specific and precise nature of the word choices is a strength of this book. Vande Griek is an award-winning author, and in her written text she refuses to “speak down” to her young audience. Rather, her word choices reflect respect for accuracy and also for the abilities of children to make sense of information if it is presented in an accurate yet accessible manner. At book’s end, there is also a helpful glossary that provides assistance if needed. The glossary defines 30 words, including predictable terms like prey, adaptation, and courting. The more advanced, specific “bird words”, like skein, semipalmated, colony, and murmuration, accurately reflect the approach Vande Griek has adopted in Hawks Kettle, Puffins Wheel
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Vande Griek has included a single free verse poem for each of 12 species of birds found in North America (the “Geese Skein” poem about Canada Geese is also a concrete poem as it is presented in the V-shape of a flock—or skein—of geese in flight). The book also contains an introductory and concluding poem. In addition to the glossary, at the end of the book there are four more pages of information about the book’s birds, explaining where they live, their appearance, and other interesting facts. There is also a page illustrating the different feathers of the birds featured in the book.

It may well be that Vande Griek and Hoffmann’s book will not have a wide appeal. Many young children might not feel connected to the content or the style of Hawks Kettle, Puffins Wheel. For many young children, the specific bird content is not likely to be something with which they are familiar or necessarily interested. For young bird-lovers, however, the book is sure to be a hit. For others, perhaps it will serve as the introduction that helps to inspire them to become bird enthusiasts.