Starlings

Imported to the United States from Europe in 1890 and released in Central Park, New York City, to fight the growing number of insect pests at that time, the starlings quickly adapted themselves to the new climate. They are now at home almost everywhere. The starling is typical of many other birds, and this book with simple text is a wealth of birdlore. The marvel of streamline design and construction which is a bird’s body-a design which has been copied to a great extent in building airplanes-is carefully explained. We follow the starling from nesting time, when the female busily sets the nest to rights, until the young ones are completely independent. As in “Pinto’s Journey,” “Turtles” and “Coyotes,” also by Wilfrid Bronson and published by Sunstone Press, the text in this book for young readers is in large, clear type, and there are many illustrations on each page. Wilfrid Swancourt Bronson wrote his first book at the age of eight. Called “Animal People,” it started like this: “This book is for children who are interested in animals and birds. It has verey good pictures in it and children can understand it verey easily.” He later learned to spell, and wrote and illustrated over twenty books for children with “verey good pictures” that they could understand. Young readers everywhere are glad he did.