Feathers are not just for flying: feathers are aesthetic popular science picture books
Do you know what bird feathers do? What does it mean for us humans? Follow the author to find out.
In the cold Bradbury Mountains, the blue jay will shake its feathers to keep warm;
In the hot New Mexico ship rock, the feathers of red-tailed eagles protect their skin from sunburn.
Feathers can evolve bright colors that allow peacocks to successfully attract the opposite sex;
Feathers can also evolve into dull colors, allowing North American cardinals to hide in forests from being spotted by predators.
Feathers filled with air can also allow warty-nosed swans to float on the surface of the water;
The waterproof feathers help snake birds dive into the water to hunt for fish and shrimp.
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Feathers, the little miracles that nature has given to birds, behind each feather, tell the story of birds.
It was created by American children's popular science writer Melissa Stewart and popular picture book author Sarah Bleinon, and has won dozens of awards and nominations for beautiful popular science picture books. Sarah Blainon travels the world to create high-precision hand-drawn illustrations for young readers, allowing children to immerse themselves in the charm of feathers and birds.
More than a dozen kinds of feathers of different shapes, unlimited imaginations about feathers... Aesthetic feathers also have a scientific role, let's explore it!
Birds and feathers are inextricably linked, just like trees and leaves, the night sky and stars.
Of all the animals, only birds have feathers.
Most birds have thousands of feathers, and different birds have different feathers, which is why.
Because different feathers have different effects.
Some feathers are like umbrellas that shield them from sunlight.
When the tricolor heron is looking for food in the water,
will raise its wings above its head,
Feathers can block the sun, reduce the reflection of the water surface,
This makes it easier to spot fish in the water.
Some feathers act like life jackets and help birds float on the water.
Since the feathers of the warty-nosed swan are filled with air,
They can easily glide smoothly on the surface of the water,
And stay elegantly floating.
Some feathers act like sunscreen and protect the skin of birds.
On a blazing summer afternoon,
Red-tailed eagles fly in the air for hours on end to find their prey.
Their feathers are thick and block harmful rays from the sun's rays very well.
Prevents their skin from being harmed.
Some feathers are like whistles and are able to make loud noises.
When the male plum-winged petite bird attracts the attention of the opposite sex, it will tilt its body forward,
Raise your wings over your back and shake them quickly,
When the wings flap, they can make a loud sound similar to a whistle.
Some feathers, like lead pendants, help birds dive into deep water.
Most birds secrete a special oil that makes their feathers waterproof.
But this is not the case with snake birds, and the feathers of snake birds will become heavier when they are wet.
This allows it to dive into deep waters in search of fish, shrimp and crayfish.
Most importantly, feathers help birds soar freely in the sky.
About the Author:
Melissa Stewart, a popular science writer for children, has written more than 150 books for children and won numerous awards. She holds a degree in Biology and Environmental Journalism in Science and has worked as an editor. She is also a member of the American Children's Book Association, an advisor to the Illustrator Board, and a judge for the American Physical Society Children's Science Writing Award.
About the Illustrator:
Sarah Blainon is a picture book author whose work has won awards such as the 2014 National Book Award and the American Children's Library Association Reading Award.