10.31.09
Posted in Amazon.com, B&N, Bird Watching, Bird watching for children, Goodreads, Jacketflap, New Childrens Book Friends in the Meadow - Birds, Parent-child relationship, Shelfari, Svetlana Kovaalkova-McKenna, The Reading Tub, USA Book News, weRead at 3:31 am by Administrator
Friends in the Meadow-Birds is progressing along as well as any new children’s book I suppose, unless of course the author is Madonna or the book ends up on Oprah, by miracle. I’ll put the latter on my Christmas Wish List!
The book and information was placed on The USA Book News site in September, 2009 and will remain on display through December, 2009. The USA Book News site is http://www.USABookNews@earthlink.net.
The Reading Tub chose the book as one of the Fall Author Showcase features. It introduces the book and interviews the author, which was fun. See this article at http://www.thereadingtub.com/displayAuthor.asp?
The book has received several reviews on Amazon.com, B&N, and other sites. Friends in the Meadow-Birds continues to be mentioned on Twitter and Facebook and other social networking sites. The reading sites include Goodreads, Jacketflap, Shelfari,The Reading Tub, and weRead. It continues to be offered on online bookstores.
One of the lastest reviews is from the book/reading site Goodreads by Svetlana Kovalkova-McKenna. She wrote:
“Thank you Peggy, this is my review for Friends in the Meadow Birds
. I gave the book 5 stars:
This is a great starter book on birding for budding young naturalists. Once you get past the introduction, which is intended for parents, it is a little too serious for children to digest, but has loads of useful information, recommends two more great books on birding, and even has a link to Cornell Lab of Ornithology; you enter my absolute favorite part of this book - bird stories.
The bird stories are these great little gems with simply gorgeous real life photos of the birds. Most of the birds are given names, so you feel like you are reading fiction, while learning an immense amount of useful and academic information about birds. The stories can be read aloud to 4-6 year olds and given to 3-4 graders to read independently. Great book for home-schoolers.
That is not all! The book has space for your child to write notes about birdwatching, a very impressive glossary with scientific vocabulary and a certificate of completion that can be framed.”
So we keep moving forward, this book and I. Who knows what waits around the corner.
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09.24.09
Posted in Bird Watching, Bird watching for children, New Childrens Book Friends in the Meadow - Birds at 4:02 am by Administrator
Adorable and educational!, September 21, 2009
By Lisa A. Maddock (Shakopee, MN USA)
I really enjoyed “Friends in the Meadow: Birds” by Peggy Williams. The book was full of wonderful photos and descriptions. I have been feeding and watching birds for over twenty years and I learned new things! It was fun to learn about the different birds through the viewpoints of the bird babies who each had a cute name, personality and relationship to the others. My daughter and I name and find personality in the birds who come to our feeders, too! I love the idea of the birds playing together and having celebrations and parties. Cute! I recommend this book to parents, teachers or leaders of organizations interested in exposing kids of any age to the wonderful hobby of birding. What a win-win to be involved in! And kids, what a great book for gathering information for a report, or for your own hobby, too! The author includes some nice lists at the back of the book for keeping track of the birds you have seen and other notes. Thank you Peggy, for putting together such a sweet and educational book for kids.
Thanks Lisa for the great review and the kind words.
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Posted in Bird Watching, Bird watching for children, New Childrens Book Friends in the Meadow - Birds, Parent-child relationship at 3:51 am by Administrator
First Review: Delightful, September 15, 2009
By Kbird
Peggy Williams has written a delightfully fun and educational introduction to bird watching. The reader gets to meet Lovie Dove, a mourning dove that lives on Mr. and Mrs. Wilson’s farm. Lovie Dove introduces us to all of her bird friends, both those that visit the farm year round and those that stop on their migrations. The reader learns about doves, finches, bluebirds, cardinals, hummingbirds, woodpeckers, and many, many more. Wonderful color photographs are included of each bird along with a detailed description. I love that Mrs. Williams includes a very detailed glossary, a place for notes, a Life List (a place to enter all the birds that have been found, when, where, etc.), and a Certificate of Completion. The book is wonderfully written with younger children in mind, perhaps pre-school through elementary school. I think this book would make an excellent addition to elementary school science curriculums, Girl Scout and Boy Scout troop activities, 4-H and Cloverbud group activities, or for that special child who loves nature. I hope Friends in the Meadow: Birds is just the beginning of a wonderful nature series.
Second Review: Guide for Future Generations of Bird Watcher’s, September 16, 2009
By G. Reba
“Friends in the Meadow: Birds” offers children the chance to experience birding from a unique point of view…that of the “educated” watcher. Author Peggy H. Williams brings to life the wondrous world that exists just outside our front doors. In story book fashion, you are introduced to such loveable “characters” as Lovie Dovie, Robby Robin, Reddy Cresty Cardinal, Fee Bee Chickadee, as well as others, while learning about their way of life. From habits to habitats, and friends versus foes, young readers are certain to walk away with a better understanding of the feathered world around them if not a newly uncovered desire for birding!
At the stories heart is a message of acceptance. By accepting each other the way we are, not in spite of our differences but with them, the world can be a more peaceful place. Who wouldn’t want to impart both the knowledge of Nature as well as these heartfelt sentiments to the next generation? For the budding birdwatcher in your neighborhood, a definite must read…..
Third Review: Bird Watching - sounds like fun!, September 17, 2009
By M. Stanhope
This book titled “Friends in the Meadow-Birds”, by author Peggy Williams is all about bird watching. It’s quite unique in the fact that it starts out with a couple who keep bird feeders filled and enjoys watching all the birds stop by to feed. As you go through the book, it describes each bird and little facts relating to the species. There are also pictures for each bird described. How cute!
This would definitely be a book to work with if you were interested in getting started on bird watching. If you wanted to start a hobby with a child this book has a blank list at the end so they can fill in birds that they’ve seen. It also offers a certificate of completion if you wanted to use this book as a project. It even offers a detailed glossary at the end of the book.
Most importantly, it offers ways for adults and children to have fun, find a hobby to share and become familiar with the environment, nature, and the serenity it offers. I found this book quite enjoyable.
Thanks so much for taking the time to write these reviews and for the wonderful words about the book!
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Posted in Bird Watching, Bird watching for children, New Childrens Book Friends in the Meadow - Birds at 3:28 am by Administrator
New Press Release
Peggy Williams tested out her new book,Friends in the Meadow-Birds,with the first grade class at J.E. Terry Elementary in Dallas County, AL. on September 14, 2009. She introduced the hobby of birding to some very alert kids. It seems the book passed!
(I-Newswire) September 15, 2009 - For Immediate Release
September 15, 2009 Central Alabama, USA
The children’s book, Friends in the Meadow – Birds, written by Peggy Williams, M.Ed., and published by AuthorHouse is becoming known around the internet. The book is in online bookstores, mentioned in blogs, book and author websites and other places like JacketFlap, Shelfari, The Reading Tub, Twitter, Facebook, and Flicker among others. It is being featured for the next several months on USA Book News.com. Reviews are beginning to come in as well and so far have been very favorable.
The goal of the author, Peggy Williams, M.Ed., is to connect children with nature while encouraging parents to be involved in nature activities as well with their children. The end result most of the time is a closer bond and relationship between parent and child brought about through the hobby of bird watching. These activities can be shared together throughout their lifetime.
As the book is making its rounds about the internet, the movement took another direction on September 14, 2009. The author presented the book to the first grade class of J. E. Terry Elementary School of Dallas County, Alabama. To demonstrate how much fun the hobby of bird watching can be Mrs. Williams shared bird photos, a real bird’s nest, a bird egg shell, bookmarks and one of the activities from the website’s Kidz Page as an activity to complete later in the day. The class members were full of excitement at seeing the nest and the bird egg. The children listened with interest about the facts of the birds in the book and were enthusiastic about sharing their own experiences about birds. Hands stayed in the air as they volunteered to participate in the discussion. Their teacher, Mrs. Jenny Limbaugh, has been teaching about nature and birds for several days and the children were interested in learning more. They especially liked the male Goldfinch, one of the most colorful of wild birds. One young man in the class stated he would “want to keep him”.
So it seems the book passed the classroom challenge and Mrs. Limbaugh took a picture of the kids with “a real author” for their classroom scrapbook. Mrs. Williams left thankful that she was “the author that wrote a real book”, as one child described her, rather than the teacher. Although the children were very well behaved, Mrs. Williams left with a deeper admiration and respect for teachers that educate our children in that special place called the classroom. Ms. Susan Morgan is the Principal of J. E. Terry Elementary School.
For more information about ordering Friends in the Meadow-Birds or scheduling an event, contact the author, Peggy Williams, M.Ed., by email at: peggywilliams09@yahoo.com.
On website at: http://www.birdandnaturefriends-children.com
By regular mail at: P.O. Box 56 Lawley, AL 36793.
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08.30.09
Posted in Bird Watching at 4:19 am by Administrator
Today my Mom and I were privileged to see a flock of Canadian geese flying North in formation. They were squawking with every flap of their wings it seemed. They were loud announcing their travels and they were beautiful.
About two hours later we were passing a pasture that had cows grazing and among them were more Canadian geese. These had decided to take a break from flying as a thunderstorm was approaching. There was probably twenty five or so of them. They were not squawking, but just their presence announced the coming of fall. What a beautiful sight.
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08.29.09
Posted in Bird Watching, Green Living at 5:38 am by Administrator
This has been a good summer, a green one literally. For the last several years our area has been in a serious drought. For those of us that traditionally raise, can, and freeze vegetables, it has been a really long row to hoe. Our brown lawns of the drought years turned again to green this year and the garden harvest has been great.
Aside from all the green color in lawns, vegetable and flower gardens, the birds also flourished this year. The drought was hard on them as well. During the last months of the long drought, the number of Northern Cardinal sightings dropped drastically. Other birds that were normally plentiful were also lacking in numbers. Obviously, they had to go where they could easily get water. Once the rains started during the winter, the birds returned. As spring of 2009 came into full bloom, the birds also multiplied with nests in our peach trees near the vegetable garden and shrubs in and around the front and back yard. Several also made their nests in the nearby pine trees. Our bird houses were filled several times over with different bird families. It was a great feeling to have the birds back and witness their growing families. Our grandchildren advanced in their bird watching skills with birds all around the place. The birds just made the good green earth seem whole again.
One thing about this spring and summer that I noticed, was that the birds nesting and feeding all around our vegetable garden provided natural pest control for the many bugs, worms, spiders and other critters that tried to invade the young growing vegetables. The Mockingbirds, Robins, Eastern Bluebirds, Flycatchers and others had daily feasts from our garden. I came to realize just how helpful birds are to mankind. Pest control is normally a big job, but not so this year. I’m not sure why because with the rain, the little insect creatures also flourished. I just know it seemed like more birds returned than had left during the drought and even though the insects were plentiful, the birds were able to manage them. It dawned on me that watching and feeding wild birds is more than just a hobby and pleasant pastime. They provide man with much more than a beautiful sight and song. They are an important part of the eco system. Bird watching and research becomes really important when we realize how valuable their presence is to man and to the earth. Keeping watch so that species do not become extinct and keeping the earth a safe and friendly place for birds to flourish becomes our obligation, not just a hobby. The summer of 2009 provided deeper insight and bird watching became a more serious activity indeed for me and the grandchildren.
This has been a good summer, a great green one.
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07.31.09
Posted in Bird Watching at 2:39 pm by Administrator
During our drought the last three to four years before 09, especially toward the end of it, I went for months without seeing a Cardinal in my back yard. Once we finally began to get rain on a regular basis, they returned. This year, they have outdone themselves. I can see sometimes up to ten or so around one feeder. I have especially enjoyed one family. The mom and dad have successfully taught the little ones how to get to the feeder but they still like to be fed. Yesterday, some of the babies would join mom or dad at the feeder & expect to be fed even though the seed was just under their beaks. One time I saw two babies, one feeding the other. It is so neat to see them grow and learn. They have already experienced fights between other birds (finches), some sibling rivalry, safety issues like move out of the woodpeckers way and treat the humans with curiosity from afar, not too close! They have learned that you don’t mess with mom or dad as well. And they are surviving and growing. They stick together so far as if they have a sense of kinship or family. We humans could learn a lot from them. What if…. we helped each other every time something was needed, even doted on others sometimes, learn from our fights and disagreements, be curious but careful around others, remember family is family and wow, the big one, respect mom and dad! Birds and nature in general can teach us so much, and it is a pleasure to be the student.
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07.28.09
Posted in Bird Watching, Bird watching for children, New Childrens Book Friends in the Meadow - Birds, Parent-child relationship at 5:51 am by Administrator
Friends in the Meadow-Birds is now registered on Shelfari, The Site for Books. My address there is http://www.shelfari.com/o1514549898. Visit anytime and leave your comments. Look forward to your feedback. Thanks.
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07.20.09
Posted in Bird Watching, Green Living, New Childrens Book Friends in the Meadow - Birds at 11:17 pm by Administrator
Friends in the Meadow-Birds now has three posts on Twitter. I spent a couple of hours today reading about the “Green #followFriday” and the Great Green Twitter Follow Parade. Both are great efforts promoting going green and environmental issues. I also found several good birding blogs through Twitter. Check out http://mnn.com/earth-matters/energy/blogs/the-great-green-twitter-follow-parade and join the parade!
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