Eagles Are Back, The
1 Hardcover/1 CD (see all formats)

"In this posthumously published work, George explains how eagles were on the brink of extinction in the 1950s owing to overhunting, deforestation, and pesticides such as DDT. A young boy, who remains nameless, lives in Alaska and has befriended a pair of eagles. The boy volunteers to observe the eagles, named First Lady and Uncle Sam, to see if they will incubate an abandoned egg. The boy observes and helps out by giving the birds fish and visits the eagle family routinely. The audio version has music throughout the narration, contains sound effects of the forest, and is read in the strong, clear voice of the print work's illustrator, Wendell Minor. He paces his voice in order to give young listeners time to understand some of the more complicated concepts such as pesticides. VERDICT This book is informative and would be a perfect jumping-off point for discussions about Earth Day, raptors, Alaskan history, and endangered species."

"The distinctive cry of an eagle greets young listeners, followed by narrator Wendell Minor's voice detailing the decline in the U.S. bald eagle population in the period of extensive use of the pesticide DDT. As eagles and other wildlife were placed on the Endangered Species list, scientists were desperate to save the national bird. This story of a boy and a ranger who encourage an eagle pair to adopt and nurture an eagle egg is heartwarming. Minor's warm, conversational manner provides a "you-are-there" experience as the ranger explains the project's urgency, as the female shakes out her feathers to brood the egg, as the eaglet wobbles along, as the boy catches fish for food. Listeners will be surprised when the identity of the storyteller is revealed. Minor's panoramas and close-up illustrations add depth to the story."