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A different type of bird is featured in Hawk Mother: The Story of a Red-Tailed Hawk who Hatched Chickens by zoologist, Kara Hagedorn. Hagedorn came to care for Sunshine, a wounded juvenile red-tailed hawk, after the bird was wounded by a gunshot. Sunshine had such a strong mothering insect that she built a nest each spring in which she laid infertile eggs. She sat faithfully on the nest until summer when Hagedorn would destroy the nest so that Sunshine would not continue to wait. After seven years of this routine, Hagedorn put fertilized chicken eggs in Sunshine’s nest. Much to everyone’s surprise, the baby chicks hatched, and Sunshine raised them as her own, even though they did not look or behave like baby hawks. Endnotes tell more about Sunshine and Hagedorn’s story and provide additional information about hawks.
Some unusual animal adaptations are featured in Catching Air: Taking the Leap with Gliding Animals by Sneed B. Collard, III. Stunning photographs show animals that use gliding to move from tree to tree, prevent falls, or escape predators. Readers may be surprised to learn that there are gliding reptiles, amphibians, and mammals living in forests around the world.
Award-winning artist Jason Chin invites readers to explore one of the world’s most interesting landforms in Grand Canyon. As a young girl and her dad hike the trails, readers learn about the geologic history, ecological communities, and inhabitants of this natural wonder. Sidebars with detailed illustrations and facts, page cutouts that focus on unique features of the canyon, and a full gatefold representing the vistas of the expanse will entice readers of all ages.
Budding scientists will find inspiration in Newton’s Rainbow: The Revolutionary Discoveries of a Young Scientist. Lively text and detailed illustrations reveal Newton’s insatiable curiosity about the world around him. This balanced biography presents his genius mind and his enduring contributions to science, as well as his some of his foibles, including his social awkwardness and his struggles in school.
Nominations for the next year’s MO-STAR list are welcomed. The authors hope that teachers and students enjoy all of this year’s selections.
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2018 MO-STAR List