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The Children's Bookshelf: Swallows Swirl - August 4, 2024

 Swallows Swirl written by Christina Wilsdon and illustrated by Jess Mason is a story about the beauty of swallows as one young girl experiences them. “Down the hill I run, rain-booted and sweater-free. A warm breeze brushes my cheek. And all around me, swallows swirl.”

The writer and illustrator make sure that young readers understand that swallows love movement. Barn swallows can be found everywhere in the spring as they move through the morning sky. The little girl in this story loves their energy so much that she joins them with her own skipping and twirling fun.

As this tale unfolds swallows begin preparing a nest for their babies. The charming illustrations show the little girl’s love for this process full of noisy hungry babies and busy dutiful parents.

The author and the artist work beautifully together to describe what takes place when these birds move through the months and finally ready themselves for their flight to warmer climates. The girl is seen waving goodbye to the swallows as she gets on the bus for school. This is a sweet story. The back material includes interesting Barn Swallow Basics as well as Barn Swallow Migration.

Swallows Swirl is perfect for children 4-8 years of age (Sleeping Bear Press, 2024.

The Children’s Bookshelf is a production of WCMU. Links to the podcast and the activity questions can be found at Children’s Bookshelf dot org.

Activity Questions for Swallows Swirl
Study the opening picture of the young girl as she plays like she is a swallow swirling, dipping and diving. Then, find an open place in your house or garden where you can dive, dip and whirl like a swallow. Have fun!

Play like you are a hungry baby swallow opening its mouth to eat the bugs that mom and dad swallows bring you. Add the sounds that you think baby swallows would make. Remember, baby swallows are very hungry and very loud!

Study the final double page illustration in this book. If you were to give this beautiful picture a title, what would it be? Why?

 

 

 

Sue Ann Martin is professor emerita of Communication and Dramatic Arts and the founding and past Dean of the College of Communication and Fine Arts at Central Michigan University, Mt. Pleasant, Michigan. She first became interested in children’s literature when she wrote her PhD thesis on the oral characteristics of the Caldecott Award-winning children’s books. Her PhD is in Speech and Interpretation with a cognate in Early Childhood Education. She went on to review children’s books for the Detroit Free Press, write three popular resource books for teachers regarding children’s books and the creative process. She also reviewed newly-published books for Arts Almanac specials on WCMU Public Radio. Her 2002 children’s books special for WCMU won a Merit Award in Special Interest Programming from the Michigan Association of Broadcasters.