She Heard the Birds: The Story of Florence Merriam Bailey, Pioneering Nature Activist

She Heard the Birds introduces young readers to Florence Merriam Bailey, a remarkable woman who transformed ornithology and nature conservation. The book chronicles her early fascination with birds, her meticulous observations, and her eventual authorship of one of the first field guides to American birds. It highlights her advocacy for studying birds in nature rather than through collecting specimens, ultimately leading to better protections for feathered friends. Andrea D'Aquino's distinctive collage illustrations bring Florence's story to life, making this a visually engaging and informative biography for children aged 4-11.

Meet Florence Merriam Bailey, a pioneering birder and activist who changed the way we study birds forever, as told through the evocative collage style of artist Andrea D'Aquino. As a young girl, Florence Merriam Bailey fell in love with the outdoors, especially birds, whose songs and flight captivated her. She listened, waited, and watched to better understand her feathered friends, and wrote many books, including one of the first field guides to American birds. Her work ultimately led to better protection for birds and to the scientific study of birds in nature instead of in a lab. She Heard the Birds, the latest book from A Life Made by Hand: The Story of Ruth Asawa author Andrea D'Aquino, brings to life the story of a woman ahead of her time. D'Aquino's striking full-page collages make each page a delight to read.