FROM THE AUTHORS OF THE ACCLAIMED BEAUTY AND THE BEAK

About The Book

Only ten days old, two wild osprey chicks become orphans when a powerful storm shatters their forest nest. Raptor biologist Janie Veltkamp is in a race against time to nurse the chicks back to health and place them in a new nest with new osprey parents. But will the new parents accept Swoop and Soar as their own young? Or will the parents reject the chicks, and fly away forever?

Swoop and Soar tells the true, hopeful story of the chicks’ rescue and how science helps find them a new wild family. Through vibrant bird photos and inspiring, STEM-rich text, readers of all ages discover closeup how Swoop and Soar are rescued, how they survive in the wild with their parents’ protection, and how they grow up to take their first flights and start their own families.

Kids (and adults) will be fascinated to learn ospreys’ amazing adaptations, including diving feet first into the shallow water “strike zone” and crashing underwater to catch fish. Fact-filled backmatter details how Janie and other scientists reintroduced ospreys to bring back the once endangered species, after DDT wiped them out in parts of the U.S. and other countries. Ospreys are found worldwide except in Antartica, and the book introduces readers to environmental challenges ospreys face today from extreme weather, habitat loss, and plastic pollution.

What’s Being Said

“ROSE AND VELTKAMP DISTINGUISH THEIR BOOK FROM OTHER NON-FICTION BY CRAFTING A PERSONAL STORY AROUND THE SCIENTIFIC FACTS, AND HIGHLIGHTING IT WITH AMAZING PHOTOGRAPHY ON EVERY PAGE.”
ENGAGE THEIR MINDS BLOG

Teaching Aids for Swoop and Soar and Beauty And The Beak

Educational Guide Click Here

Lesson Ideas Click Here

My Thoughts

I absolutely loved Beauty and the Beak so I was excited to be offered the opportunity to read an early copy of Swoop and Soar. 

Any time babies of any kind can be rescued, I’m on board. In this case, an osprey nest and tree disappeared after a horrible storm. But a curious and caring wildlife biologist who had been watching the nest did some investigative work and located the chicks.

What now? What chance did these babies have to survive?

That’s where Janie Veltkamp stepped in.

This is a delightful story with bright pages and beautifully arranged pictures. Not only is the story set up to hold interest but the added pages, beyond the story, are wonderful teaching aids. Below are some examples:

A note from raptor biologist Janie Veltkamp

     Rescuing ospreys

     Reintroducing ospreys

     Protecting ospreys

All About Ospreys

     What kinds of birds are ospreys?

     How do ospreys use their talons and beaks?

This is just a small portion of helpful information that is included. There is even a section that shows where to watch live Ospreys on webcams, which excited me.

The whole time I was reading I kept thinking that it wasn’t just an interesting story, it was a learning tool and a wonderful resource for teachers. 

My Concerns

I had nothing that concerned me.

Final Thoughts

This is a book you can’t go wrong with. And if you’re in a generous mood and haven’t read Beauty And The Beak, I highly recommend it as well.

An easy thumbs up to this interesting book that teaches so much. And I loved that it promoted compassion and problem-solving.

My thanks to the authors and publisher for a gifted advanced review copy. I was free to state my opinion without any stipulations

Rating

About the Authors

DEBORAH LEE ROSE coauthored the children’s book Beauty and the Beak: How Science, Technology, and a 3D-Printed Beak Rescued a Bald Eagle, winner of the AAAS/Subaru SB&F Prize for Excellence in Science Books, the Bank Street College Cook Prize for Best STEM Picture Book, and the California Reading Association Eureka! Gold Award for Nonfiction. Deborah is the author of bestselling and beloved books read around the world, including Astronauts Zoom! An Astronaut Alphabet about the
International Space Station, Scientists Get Dressed, Jimmy the Joey, The Twelve Days of Winter, and Ocean Babies. She speaks to schools and libraries, professional conferences and organizations. After many years in Northern California, Deborah now lives in Silver Spring, MD. Visit her website at deborahleerose.com.

JANE VELTKAMP coauthored the children’s book Beauty and the Beak: How Science, Technology, and a 3D-Printed Beak Rescued a Bald Eagle, winner of the AAAS/Subaru SB&F Prize for Excellence in Science Books, the Bank Street College Cook Prize for Best STEM Picture Book, and the California Reading Association Eureka! Gold Award for Nonfiction. A raptor biologist and educator, Jane is founding director of the nonprofit Birds of Prey Northwest in northern Idaho. She cares for Beauty the bald eagle, ospreys and raptors of all kinds, and leads raptor education programs involving live, specially trained educational birds. She directed the successful reintroduction of ospreys in eastern South Dakota. She rescues and treats wild raptors under permit from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. She is the osprey expert for the Sandpoint, Idaho osprey nest cam. Visit her website at birdsofpreynorthwest.org.

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