The Origami Master by Nathaniel Lachenmeyer

Illustrated by Aki Sogabe. A warbler in a tree observes an origami master creating origami during the day. At night, the warbler flies inside and creates his own origami masterpieces. Shimi eventually captures the bird in order to learn its secrets. In the end, Shimi comes to realize the importance of freedom and friendship. The bright, vivid colors of the origami paper, trees, etc. will work well for read alouds. There is a "Make Your Own Origami Bird" activity at the end of the book. In addition to being a wonderful multicultural title, this picture book also contains a simple moral for children.

Pale Male: Citizen Hawk of New York City by Janet Schulman, illustrated by Meilo So

This non-fiction picture book details the story of the famed red-tailed hawk that nested with his mate near the top of a New York City apartment building. While many loved watching the birds, the apartment residents disliked their mess and removed the nest, thus setting off an international protest. The well-rendered watercolor paintings are a beautiful complement to this heart-warming story. Any unit on birds or the environment would benefit from the use of this title. Grades 3 and up.