The 6 Best Children’s Books About Birds for Learning and Adventuring

They’re so much a part of our lives that the chirping and serenading often get missed. To instill a love for nature and all its wonders in your children, you need a little help from children’s books about birds. Whether you’re an avid birdwatcher and want to pass down the love for different bird species or your little one has shown an interest in birds, there are so many authors and illustrators who have collaborated to create beautiful works. These children’s books about birds serve to teach, inspire, and motivate kiddos of different ages to explore the outside world through a new lens.

Below, we highlight the six best children’s books about birds, starting with one that is all about educating kids about different bird species. The next is a beautiful story about a baby bird that takes its first solo flight — the author aims to inspire kiddos and encourage them to tackle their challenges head-on. We also cover books on adventures, activities, and birdwatching for beginners. To help you with your final choice, we cover the criteria to consider before you make a purchase and remind you to explore the different types of books about birds to give the young reader in your life a gift to cherish.

A-Z-Animals’ Top Picks for the Best Books About Birds

#1 Best Overall: Big Book of Birds (The Big Book Series) by Yuval Zommer

The best overall children’s book about birds is The Big Book of Birds. This is part of The Big Book series and is written and illustrated in a way that introduces young children to some of the most beautiful, charming, goofy, and surprising birds from all across the globe. It takes a really fun, illustrated approach to teaching children about all the different types of birds that live throughout the world. The pages are lively with illustrations of all the different types of birds, and each includes text that shares fun facts about the different types of birds.

All of these distinctive illustrations paired with the fun facts draw children in (along with their parents)! Your child gets to learn about bald eagles, puffins, peacocks, hummingbirds, and even flamingos. If your child has shown any interest in birdwatching, this is also a great book because it touches on the importance of protecting birds and their environments. It also addresses how to make your garden bird-friendly. The text is chatty and humorous with lots of intriguing facts. Don’t be surprised if you are just as engaged as your child when reading it.

Customers rate this book, which is only available in illustrated hardcover format, 4.8 out of five stars. One customer loves Yuval Zommer’s (the illustrator) unique style. They have started a collection because they enjoy the art, and it keeps their child interested. Other parents find their kids admiring the photos and pointing at the different facts, letting their parents know which facts they want to read first. It’s designed for children between four and seven years of age. Some customers comment that the way that it’s illustrated bothers them because the birds have two eyes on one side of their faces. That’s part of the illustrator’s unique style so be sure to take a look at the photos before you decide on this book for your kids!

Pros and Cons of Big Book of Birds (The Big Book Series) by Yuval Zommer

Best Overall

Big Book of Birds (The Big Book Series)

• 64 pages.
• Customers recommend this book for children ages 4 through 7.
• Part of a series of six books called The Big Book series.

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2. Best Inspirational: Why Should I Walk? I Can Fly! by Ann Ingalls (Author) and Rebecca Evans (Illustrator)

For a growth mindset book for kids that incorporates birds, you can’t go wrong with Why Should I Walk? I Can Fly! by Ann Ingalls (author) and Rebecca Evans (illustrator). It even includes STEM activities. It’s all about teaching children that they can do hard things. The book centers around the characteristics of robins. The baby bird leaves its mother’s nest for the very first time. Its first flight offers children a reminder that even if they’re trying something for the first time, they can accomplish it so long as they keep trying.

The text rhymes and is very playful. The story is accompanied by some fun watercolor illustrations to give children something to look at as they enjoy the story. They get that bird’s eye view of the baby bird’s range of emotions as it embarks on its first solo flight. It’s fun and adventurous and has a deeper meaning that you and your child can appreciate together. It’s perfect for children between the ages of three and eight and is 32 pages in length. Pick up either the hardcover or paperback version.

Customers rate this book, which is available in hardcover picture book and paperback picture book, 4.9 out of five stars. One customer is a pre-K teacher for autistic children and purchased it for her class. She loves that it’s simple and well-written with great illustrations. It was definitely a hit with her kiddos. Another customer purchased this book for her four-year-old. They are a bird-loving family and she is very excited to incorporate this book as part of their upcoming lesson on bird feathers. She’s picked up a couple of different books online for her family and has unfortunately been disappointed a few of those times. However, this one did not disappoint. She is thrilled and highly recommends it.

Pros and Cons of Why Should I Walk? I Can Fly! by Ann Ingalls (Author) and Rebecca Evans (Illustrator)

Best Inspirational

Why Should I Walk? I Can Fly!: An Inspiring Growth Mindset Book For Kids About Birds (Includes STEM Activities)

• 32 pages.
• Recommended for children ages 3 through 8.
• A book that works to teach a growth mindset to children.

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3. Best Activity Book: Exploring Birds Activity Book for Kids: 50 Creative Projects to Inspire Curiosity & Discovery by Kristine Rivers

There’s nothing quite like an activity book like Exploring Birds Activity Book for Kids: 50 Creative Projects to Inspire Curiosity & Discovery by Kristine Rivers to get children excited. This book is perfect for children between the ages of eight and 12. It helps them explore the world of birds through some hands-on activities. This bird book is packed with all sorts of fun games that help young readers discover what makes birds so incredible. They learn about the diversity of birds as well as their importance to our ecosystem. They can try their hand at sketching different types of birds, creating maps of the different bird sounds, using binoculars, and tons more.

While other books are meant to be enjoyed while cuddled up on the couch or even as a bedtime story, this book is all about taking action. Kids get guidance on going birding, including advice on the right tools for observing and recording what they see. The book is also packed with different tips for successful birdwatching anywhere, whether you live in a bustling city or you’re out in the country. The idea is to teach kids how to engage with birds respectfully and to learn the lessons that birds offer humans.

Customers rate this book, which is available in Kindle and paperback formats, 4.7 out of five stars. One customer says that birdwatching isn’t an activity just for her cat. Although, she knows that her cat loves laying there for hours and just watching all the birds outside the window. However, she wanted to get her kids engaged with birdwatching as well. She loves that this book incorporates a lot of fun ideas and activities to get kids into the mind of a bird. They can build their own nest from different materials that they find outside, and they can also pick up different types of foods that birds might eat. It’s definitely the type of book that takes your whole family on an adventure.

Pros and Cons of Exploring Birds Activity Book for Kids: 50 Creative Projects to Inspire Curiosity & Discovery by Kristine Rivers

Best Activity Book

Exploring Birds Activity Book for Kids: 50 Creative Projects to Inspire Curiosity & Discovery (Exploring for Kids Activity Books and Journals)

• 134 pages.
• Recommended for children ages 8 through 12.
• Features activities and games to help kids learn about birds and their place in the ecosystem.

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4. Best for Adventures: A Backyard Birding Adventure: What’s in Your Yard? by Kermit Cummings (Author), Holly Weinstein (Illustrator)

A Backyard Birding Adventure: What’s in Your Yard? by Kermit Cummings (author), Holly Weinstein (illustrator) makes learning about birds an adventure. Your kids have likely enjoyed playing out in your yard or the local park, but have they taken the time to follow all those chirping sounds? What about those vibrant colors in the feathers of different birds? With this book, if there’s a bird that visits your porch or your tree, your kid will be able to identify the type of bird it is. This book teaches kids about all the different types of birds they can discover in their own backyard and can learn to understand why birds sing.

It’s a little book for little readers that offers a friendly approach to the avian world. It’s cleverly written and whimsically illustrated. Plus, it incorporates rhyme along with some stunning photographs to pique your child’s interest. The author is a veteran birder and who better than someone like that to write a book on birds for kids? Use this book to create backyard adventures with your kids. The birds highlighted are easy to spot and readily available bird species so that each trip out to your backyard or local park can get even more exciting and educational.

Customers rate this book, which is only available in hardcover picture book format, 4.6 out of five stars. It’s for kids between four and eight years old and customers find it fun. They love that it has an interactive approach. One customer explains that you can download an app that includes sections with the birds that the book covers. This app then plays the sounds that the specific bird makes. This adds another element of fun to the book, incorporating not just what’s on the page but also what can be heard when you know what to listen for.

One reviewer said that they were disappointed that the book only features male birds, so there’s no way children will learn how to identify the females.

Pros and Cons of A Backyard Birding Adventure: What’s in Your Yard? by Kermit Cummings (Author), Holly Weinstein (Illustrator)

Best for Adventures

A Backyard Birding Adventure: What's in Your Yard?

• 32 pages.
• Recommended for children ages 4 through 8.
• Uses educational rhymes and pictures to inspire a sense of adventure for birding in children.

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5. Best Board Book: Birds: Feathers, Eggs, and Beaks by Cottage Door Press (Author), Scarlett Wing (Author), and Beatrice Tinarelli (Illustrator)

If you have young children, you know that board books like Birds: Feathers, Eggs, and Beaks by Cottage Door Press (author), Scarlett Wing (author), and Beatrice Tinarelli (illustrator) are a must. They are the most durable of the different types of books and little hands love turning these pages. This is a Smithsonian Kids First Discovery book. It’s for children between five and six years old. If you’ve noticed that your kiddo has expressed interest in birds, this book invites them to read, touch, and discover everything they need to know about their feathered friends.

The book incorporates embossed textures along with detailed and colorful photographs to help your child become acquainted with the world of birds. Since it incorporates texture, this board book helps to engage both verbal and tactile learning skills. Along with some real photographs, the book incorporates illustrations, helping to identify the different parts of a bird. It also includes illustrated characters that deliver fun facts.

Customers rate this book 4.7 out of five stars. They love that it has an educational purpose and find that their young readers have taken a different approach when they go outside. Their eyes move upward as they search for the birds that they are learning about and also as they listen to the birds’ different sounds. Another customer appreciates that the book doesn’t just incorporate illustrations, but also photos of real birds.

A sole reviewer said that this book didn’t feature common backyard birds.

Pros and Cons of Birds: Feathers, Eggs, and Beaks by Cottage Door Press (Author), Scarlett Wing (Author), and Beatrice Tinarelli (Illustrator)

Best Board Book

Birds: Feathers, Eggs, and Beaks (Smithsonian Kids First Discovery Books)

• 12 pages.
• Recommended for children ages 5 through 6.
• A Smithsonian Kids First Discovery board book, a series of six books.

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6. Best for Beginner Birdwatchers: Beginning Birdwatcher’s Book: With 48 Stickers by Sy Barlowe

If you’ve got a young birdwatcher on your hands, Beginning Birdwatcher’s Book: With 48 Stickers by Sy Barlowe is a must-have. This is an easy-to-read workbook. It’s bursting with tons of facts and that helps young birdwatchers start the process of keeping their own life lists. They have a spot where they can indicate the date, place, habitat, and more for their first sighting of each different bird species.

The book also comes with 48 stickers of common North American birds. Among them are the morning dove, red-winged blackbird, ruby-throated hummingbird, American crow, and blue jay. This is a fantastic book for kids who enjoy stickers and birdwatching, and who can enjoy an educational experience as they keep a record of all the bird species they encounter.

Customers rate this book, which is available in hardcover and paperback, 4.7 out of five stars. They look at it as a terrific tool that sparks and nurtures a young child’s interest in birds. One customer says that this is way more than an identification guide. You’re getting beautiful illustrations in the form of stickers and your child is getting the full experience of birdwatching with recordkeeping. Another customer says that it was a big hit with her six-year-old niece and her three-year-old nephew. She bought one for each of them and they immediately insisted on going outside for a bird walk.

One reviewer said that the book wasn’t edited properly, so the Index of Common Names doesn’t sync with the pages on which species are located. Another said that there is no sense of scale, so the sticker for a hummingbird and an eagle are the same size.

Pros and Cons of Beginning Birdwatcher’s Book: With 48 Stickers by Sy Barlowe

Best for Beginner Birdwatchers

Beginning Birdwatcher's Book: With 48 Stickers (Dover Children's Activity Books)

• 32 pages.
• Customers recommend this book for children 4 through 8.
• Includes pages in which young birdwatchers can notate details about their first sighting of 48 common birds.

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Criteria: What to Look for in Books About Birds

Each of the books above takes a distinct approach to birds. Some invite interaction and others invite children to learn specifics about bird species. Below, we go over some of the criteria to consider. This way, you can be sure your next book purchase is a hit with the young reader in your life.  

The Message

Some books are strictly educational. These are non-fiction. They help children learn all about the anatomy of birds, their different species, songs, and the environments they inhabit. These types of books provide young readers with a foundational understanding they can build upon. Other books weave fictional stories centered around birds, aiming to relay an important life lesson to young, impressionable children. These are books that inspire, motivate, and impart lessons kiddos can take with them as they grow.

The Reading Level

Find this piece of information just under the book’s description. You might struggle with deciphering which books are for toddlers and which are for older, more independent readers. Double-checking this crucial piece of information is necessary. Otherwise, the child may lose interest quickly. When the reading level is just right, kids remain engaged.

The Different Types of Books About Birds

Board Book, Paperback, and Hardcover

Board books are a godsend for homes with babies and toddlers. These books are built to last! They are bright and colorful with simple text and tons to look at. They survive sticky messes and hand-to-mouth habits. Paperbacks are great for older children who are more conscientious and can better care for their books. For those kids in between those two stages, hardcovers are perfect. They’re more durable than paperbacks but still age-appropriate for growing kiddos.

Illustrations vs. Photography

Some books include fun illustrations that charm young readers while others incorporate real photography that highlights how different bird species look in real life. Some books take the best of both worlds and mix it up with both illustrations and photography.