Hawk Rising

by Maria Gianferrari, Brian Floca (Illustrator)

In the companion to Coyote Moon, follow a red-tailed hawk in his hunt to feed his family in this picture book, from Maria Gianferrari (Coyote Moon) and illustrated by Brian Floca. Complete with back matter containing more information about how hawks hunt, nest, and raise families, as well as further sources.

Early morning and a ruffle of feathers,

A shadow gliding through the backyard.

High above your house Father Hawk circles, sharp eyes searching for prey. From the front porch, you watch.

Swoosh!

He dives after chipmunks, crows, sparrows, squirrels.

Screech!

The sun sets low in the sky. What’s for dinner?

Genres: Picture Books, Animals, Nature, Birds, Nonfiction, Science, Childrens

40 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 2018

About the author

Bird nerd; nature and animal lover; writer of fiction and nonfiction picture books.

pennyandjelly.com

#pennyandjelly on Instagram

Reviews

[Mischenko · Rating 4 out of 5]

This children's book about a red-tailed hawk family is written beautifully and has very neat illustrations. Children will see a hawk family and follow the father throughout the day to see what his life is like. It's easy to dislike hawks due to some of the animals they hunt, but children will learn that they are doing what they have to in order to keep their family fed. We enjoyed all the facts shared in the back about hawks and how they hunt and nest. This is a wonderful educational book for classrooms and libraries.

4****

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

With poetic text and lovely artwork, author Maria Gianferrari and illustrator Brian Floca capture the majesty of a red-tailed hawk's hunt for food for his family. Perching high above the ground, Father Hawk scans for prey, just as a young girl with binoculars scans for his movement. Eventually, after a long day involving many false attempts, our accipitrine hero succeeds in capturing a squirrel. His eyases will eat tonight!

Like Coyote Moon , the author's earlier work of picture-book natural history, Hawk Rising follows the story of an animal predator on the hunt, in order to feed his family. The text is simple and brief, offering an almost snapshot-style description of the hawk's actions: "Father Hawk spots / a squirrel scurrying / toward a tree. / He parachutes. / Legs tipping, / talons gripping..." The artwork, in the meantime, fleshes out the story, capturing the beauty of the world around the hawk (and girl), and the terror of the hawk's efforts, at least for the prey animals. The two-page afterword provides more information about red-tailed hawks, as well as a list of further reading and resources. Recommended to young animal lovers, although parents and educators of very sensitive children should be aware that Hawk Rising offers a realistic depiction of the natural world, and that the (very cute) squirrel is captured in the end.

[Gary Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this nonfiction picture book, two sisters rise early to observe Father Hawk as he alternately perches on a pole and swoops down on unsuspecting prey to take back to his family’s nest. Maria Gianferrari’s lyrical text echoes the action through her use of sound repetition and varying line lengths, while Brian Floca’s illustrations zoom in and out from intimate close-ups as well to the more distant perspectives from which we commonly view hawks. As young readers discover details about a hawk’s hunting habits, family structure, and its role in the ecosystem, the learning is wrapped in memorable language and a narrative frame emphasizing similarities between hawks and humans. The back matter includes a useful list of explanations related to hawk behavior, as well as resources for further learning about hawks.

[Jana · Rating 5 out of 5]

This beautifully illustrated book uses wonderfully descriptive narrative to tell young readers about a day in the life of a red-tailed hawk. Just like Gianferrari's previous book, Coyote Moon, this book uses very dramatic details and description to show kids the excitement of the hunt for food to feed the hawk family. The author lists more factual information and resources for further research at the back of the book. This is a great nonfiction book to share with young readers.

[KC · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this picture book and its realistic and true represention of hawks and their behavior.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

A young bird watcher watches a hawk family all day, waiting to see it catch it's meal. The girl exercises patience which is a good expectation to set for anyone interested in this hobby. Fun pictures! Hawk facts and tips on seeing a red-tailed hawk are found in the back.

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

@kidlitexchange #partner
Thanks to the @kidlitexchange network for the review copy of Hawk Rising. All opinions are my own.
Hawk Rising is a beautiful look into the life of a hawk family. Mother Hawk stays at the nest guarding the chicks, Father Hawk goes in search of food, and the person intently observes the hawks’ behavior. Maria Gianferrari (@pennyandjelly) has crafted a nonfiction narrative that contains movement on every page, making the reader (and the character watching the action) wonder if Father will return with food. Brian Floca’s detailed illustrations add extra depth to this book. A great feature is the fact list at the end of the book, where readers will learn even more about hawks and their behavior. Having attended a conference at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, I appreciated the shout-out to that amazing facility as well. Any budding birdwatchers or young outdoor enthusiasts would enjoy this informative, entertaining read!
#kidlitexchange #HawkRising #predatorvsprey #redtailedhawk

[Peacegal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stunning illustrations tell the story of one hawk's day as he navigates his suburban environment, searching for prey to bring home to his mate and chicks. As the hawk perches and soars, a child and her mom observe him from their backyard.

This book reminds us that wildlife is all around--even in residential areas. It shows us that animals have a lot more going on in their lives that we may assume, and the struggle to survive is always present. It also encourages kids to step away from the screen and observe the amazing things that go on right outside their door.

It should be noted that HAWK RISING deals with the predator/prey relationship in a straightforward and frank manner while emphasizing that if the hawk doesn't succeed in catching prey, his chicks will go hungry. Very young or sensitive children are likely to be bothered by this content, particularly the page that shows the hawk seizing a prey animal...so adults may want to preview it first.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a lovely book with nice illustrations, but as I was reading it I couldn't help but feel the dread about that moment that the hawk would finally catch a small animal and feed it to its family. I know that this is part of nature, but trying to look at it through a child's eyes...it didn't work for me.

[Sheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Follow a red-tailed hawk as he hunts and taking care of her family in their nest. Some misses and some catches for the family waiting in the nest. Girls watching the events as father and mother hawk hunt for food for their babies. Beautiful illustrations.

[Candice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hawk Rising is a cleverly written, beautifully illustrated factual story about Red-tailed Hawks. It’s great for school-age children who are interested in learning about birds. A lot of stories for young children give animals human qualities and paint them as either villains or heroes (usually while wearing clothes). Fortunately, this book is not among them. This is nature education at its finest. Highly recommended!

[Viviane Elbee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gorgeous artwork in this picture book for bird fans. The kids liked it. This book would be great paired with some outdoor bird watching with the kids - maybe even with binoculars (either real, or pretend binoculars) for extra fun.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book follows a day in the life of a father hawk trying to feed his offspring and a young girl who watches him with her binoculars.

The prose is spare and alliterative, making prominent use of action verbs and gerunds that add a sense of movement to the text:

“Chicks waiting.
You watching.”

“Crows charge
And chase,
Darting and
diving,
Driving Father Hawk from their roost.”

“Father Hawk lands on a light-pole.
Dandelions ripple.
Oaks tremble.”

“Father Hawk perches
And searches.
Sun sinking.
Daylight blinking.
Chicks waiting.
You fading.”

Eventually, this beautiful and majestic red-tailed hawk gets the food he needs for the nest. [This might be a good time for a talk about the laws of nature and predators and prey.]

Brian Floca is an award-winning author and illustrator whose watercolors stand out for their stunning and realistic detail. Here he employs a warm palette of greens, blues, and yellows punctuated by the red tail of the hawk. Although most of the focus is on birds, he is able to show a spectrum among them, successfully conveying both the beauty and drama of the great outdoors.

The author ends with two pages of additional facts about red-tailed hawks, a list for further reading and viewing, and links to informative websites, including red-tailed hawk cams, like this one, where you can see them in action.

Evaluation: This book will enlighten, educate, and enchant (to echo its alliteration). The illustrations are outstanding, and together with the back matter may lead children to try to spot hawks on their own, and learn more about them.

[Amanda Tulacz · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Hawk Rising” is a beautiful tale that takes place in the real world, rather than one of imagination or fancy. The story visually follows a pair of children as they observe a red-tailed hawk on its quest to feed its chicks throughout the day, from morning to sunset. It is written in the second person, which allows the reader to enter the story themselves: they ARE the one observing the hawk. The lyrical feel of Gianferrari’s text pairs well with Floca’s delicately realistic illustration, together encapsulating the magical feeling of observing these majestic birds. This story explains to young readers that even predatory animals have a family to feed. While it may not be suitable for every young reader, children will have to learn about the circle of life one way or another. Hawks aren’t the bad guys, they simply need to eat, too. There’s even a fact sheet at the end, for readers who would like to know more about this gorgeous bird.
Red-tailed hawks have been my personal favorite animal since a very young age, and I would have been thrilled to discover this book when I was a child. Even at my age now, I was thrilled to have found this book in the library, and instantly fell in love with how perfectly it captures the spirit of the red-tailed hawk. So thrilled, that I have purchased my own copy to keep on my bookshelf and enjoy for years to come, and even share with my nieces and nephews when the day comes.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

A young girl, eventually joined by her sister, ventures forth from their house to keep an eye on a red-tailed hawk as he circles in the sky. In search of prey, he has several failed attempts to bring home dinner for his nestlings, eventually landing a squirrel. The two humans seem to spend much of the day watching him before settling down for the night in their own safe nests. The text is filled with evocative language that indicates the author has spent some time observing and studying this species, while the illustrations rely on soft tints and tones to show this predator in action as well as to depict the passage of time. There are several close-ups that show the singlemindedness of the bird as well as its frustration in missing its targets. The back matter provides additional facts about red-tailed hawks and additional resources for interested readers. I'd certainly add this one to a classroom elementary science collection. There is not a doubt in my mind that it would inspire readers to become birdwatchers themselves and foster a new appreciation for all living things.

[Jo-ann Walsh · Rating 4 out of 5]

@kidlitexchange #partner
Thank you @kidlitexchange for the review copy of Hawk Rising by Maria Gianferrari. This book releases on June 5, 2018. All opinions are my own. While Mother Hawk waits with her young, Father Hawk hunts for prey to feed his family.He perch-hunts, using his keen eyes to search for food. Will it be a chipmunk, a sparrow, a squirrel…? “Father Hawk perches and searches. Sun sinking. Daylight blinking. Chicks waiting.” A mother and daughter watch and observe as Father Hawk flies, hunts, and lands back in the nest, providing for his family.
This beautiful picture book has a lyrical flow that tells us the story of a red-tailed hawk family. I love the vivid descriptions that Maria Gianferrari uses to chronicle the Father Hawk’s actions as he hunts for his baby chicks. Brian Floca’s awesome illustrations truly bring the story to life. This is a great story and can help children understand the nature of predator vs prey.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

An imaginative story, but Maria Gianferrari has also placed some further information about Red-Tailed Hawks at the back. Basically, it’s about a Father Hawk working hard to find dinner for his nestlings, and after several attempts, finally grabs a squirrel to take home to screeching babies. A second storyline shows a mother and her daughter watching outside their home, with binoculars, who follow the hawk through the day. Few, but beautiful, words are used as Brian Floca fills the pages with the grandeur of this bird of prey, the beauty of his flight, the frightening attacking claws grasping, missing, holding on at the end. Imagine: “Chipmunk scuttles under the neighbor’s porch.” and “He rides the wind/like a wave,/twisting and turning,/kiting and floating.” It’s a wonderful book of one day in a red-tailed hawk’s life, one that might be used to introduce birds of prey, to discuss the challenges it has each day and those of the little animals to escape.

[Danielle Hammelef · Rating 5 out of 5]

This gorgeously illustrated nonfiction picture book with lyrical prose presents a typical day in the life of a red-tailed hawk. It also tells the story of two sisters who are using their scientific observations to learn more about this predator and its prey. The illustrations give the reader a closeup view of a hawk's life as well as from the distant point of view readers see from the ground. This book is not graphic, but it shows wildlife's predator/prey relationship so parents/caregivers/teachers will have a springboard for frank discussions about the food chain. Additional facts about hawks and their ecosystems are presented in the back as well as where kids of all ages can seek these birds of prey to make their own wildlife observations. The very cool and personal thing for me is that a red-tailed hawk is calling outside my window as I type.

[David]

Hawk Rising is a children's picture book that masterfully demonstrates that it is not what the story is about but how it is told. The story is about a child observing a Red-Tailed Hawk all day long. The text and illustrations complement each other because the text is written in an impressionistic and poetic way - suggesting valuable details without spelling them out in complete sentences. Meanwhile, the illustrations provide a fuller depiction in a studied and detailed sketch style. The illustrations created a full picture while the text provided poetic emphasis. The story has the necessary level of excitement, when the hawk attempts to catch a meal, that my adventurous 5 year old enjoyed. In addition, the book increased awareness and interest in observing the natural world.

[Christy · Rating 5 out of 5]

n the companion to Coyote Moon, follow a red-tailed hawk in his hunt to feed his family in this picture book, from Maria Gianferrari (Coyote Moon) and illustrated by Brian Floca. Complete with back matter containing more information about how hawks hunt, nest, and raise families, as well as further sources.

Early morning and a ruffle of feathers,

A shadow gliding through the backyard.

High above your house Father Hawk circles, sharp eyes searching for prey. From the front porch, you watch.

Swoosh!

He dives after chipmunks, crows, sparrows, squirrels.

Screech!

The sun sets low in the sky. What’s for dinner?

[R · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hawk Rising illustrates a day in the life of a father red tail hawk that lives in the suburbs. Two sisters intently watch the hawk's daily routine of finding food and bringing it back to his nest for the chicks and mother hawk awaiting a meal. Floca's illustrations are soft and natural reflecting the landscape and environment of the suburbs where the hawk family resides in a tall cedar in the girls' backyard. Facts about the Red Tail Hawk are included at the end of the narrative and describe the habits of the hawks, residences, raptor characteristics, and food choices. Recommended for younger children, naturalists, bird enthusiasts, and anyone who has a hawk living in their neighborhood.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Continuing to enjoy the art of realistic watercolorists, Gianferrari's book on the red-tailed hawk enlists artist Brian Floca who adds ink to watercolor for his illustrations. Floca's use of ink for both small details in the hawk's wings while in flight and only a suggestion of the urban setting below pulls together the visual narrative. Again, Gianferrari successfully uses the second- and third-person narrative which brings in the reader to experience watching the hawk as do the observers in the story. The informative facts at the end of the book tells us that a group of hawks is often referred to as a 'kettle' of hawks. Another story about how predators adapt to urban life.

[Laura Mossa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Special thanks to Maria Gianferrari for sharing an ARC of Hawk Rising with my #bookexcursion group. It will be published in May 2018.

Hawk Rising is a narrative non-fiction picture book which tells the story of mother and daughter observing a father hawk hunting for prey for his family.

At the beginning, the mood is calm with both the family and the hawk waking up to begin their day. Father Hawk perches at the top of a pole to survey the land for his family’s next meal. The mother and daughter notice the hawk from their suburban backyard.

The mood quickly turns tense as Father Hawk swoops down to catch a chipmunk. To the hawk’s dismay, the rodent escapes running under a porch. However, Father Hawk is not deterred and continues his search for food even as the sun is setting for the night. The story has a thrilling ending with Father Hawk victorious in his quest to feed his brood.

I am a such fan of Maria Gianferari’s writing. The text is true poetry, for she chooses her words carefully to dramatically describe the family’s actions and feelings as well as the hawk’s pursuit. Coupling Maria Gianferrari’s words with Brian Floca’s illustrations, the story takes flight. Floca’s illustration vividly convey not only Father Hawk’s determination, but also the young daughter’s apprehension of seeing the hawk succeed in his mission.

[Serenity · Rating 4 out of 5]

*I received a free review copy of this book from the publisher through my district library services*

This is a lovely picture book. It reads almost like a narrative non-fiction. Although it is not text-heavy, you might want to consider saving it for older elementary. I found some of the vocabulary to be pretty elevated, and there is a spread that shows an animal being caught by a hawk (of course, for younger kiddos who love nature documentaries and understand that predators must hunt to eat, it will probably be fine).

[Becky B · Rating 4 out of 5]

A girl observes a day of a father hawk hunting for prey.

There's further information about hawks in the back of the book. Gianferrari is a brave author unafraid of introducing carnivores that eat other cute creatures to kids. The book isn't gory, but a cute squirrel is snatched up for dinner. This is a quick, informative read about a bird of prey that is pretty common in America. And Floca's illustrations are magnificent. Hand this to kids who want to learn about backyard predators or bird lovers.

[Carol V · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hawk Rising is an excellent book to introduce children to raptor birds. Maria Gianferrari addresses the search for food in a gentle manner. And Brian Floca has many full two-page spreads to illustrate these magnificent birds in action. Notes in the end are useful to help teach readers about these beautiful creatures. On a side note, I once looked up at my picture window to see a hawk, not looking at me, but instead investigating the shrubs for a possible sparrow - just like in this story!

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Choose this book for its gorgeous illustrations--from sky scapes to close ups of hawk talons reaching for sparrows in a bush. The text follows a young girl as she watches a hawk from her home on the ground, observing its behavior from sunrise to sunset. Back matter includes many facts about red-tailed hawks. A wonderful fiction/non-fiction combination. Can appeal to a wide range because non-readers will explore the illustrations while readers can additionally learn from the text.

[Kelly Carey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful non-fiction picture book about a red hawk told with sweeping lyrical language that flows and zips and dives just like the bird it describes.

I did love that while most of the hawk's potential prey gets one did not --- happy the author did not shy away from showing the real facts of nature.

[Bethe · Rating 4 out of 5]

literary or narrative nonfiction, love the illustrations changing from the people's POV to the hawk's POV. The page for the successful hunt is tastefully done, keeping the in the spirit of the text. Back matter includes facts about hawks and suggestions for further reading. I was curious for the Mars rising red each morning, lovely image, does it have any special significance for the hawk?

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Red-tailed hawks are the most common hawk in North America. (I see them often near my home in Nova Scotia.) This book is about this beautiful bird of prey, and the illustrations are fabulous.
The author tells about the hunting skills of the hawk, and the raising of its young. In the back pages of this book is extra very interesting information.