Mama Built a Little Nest    by Jennifer Ward & Steve Jenkins Order:  USA  Can Beach Lane, 2014 (2014) Hardcover, e-Book     Reviewed by Bob Walch When it comes to birds and nests, the one size fits all approach doesn't work. Jennifer Ward shows all the interesting options that various birds use when it comes to creating or finding a nesting place. The more common nest made from sticks and whatever else they can find appeals to a lot of birds, but the woodpecker prefers a cavity within a tree and the falcon calls a ledge on a cliff home. The male cactus wren builds several dome-shaped nests hoping to attract a female. The unused nests on the cactus also serve as a defensive mechanism because they confuse would-be predators. While weaverbirds create very detailed nests that hang down from a tree limb as a fruit might, the burrowing owl nests underground and grebes construct floating nests anchored to water plants. As you read this book you'll learn that one of the biggest nests, the bald eagle's home, is constructed high atop a tree and can be up to five or six feet in diameter, but on the other end of the spectrum one of the smallest, the hummingbird nest, is cup-shaped and made from spiderwebs so the nest will stretch as the chicks grow. There's a lot of variety when it comes to bird nests and this picture book offers a nice overview of how various bird species approach the problem of finding or creating a home in which to raise their young. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Kids books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews