In a comic-style book of information, a man who is decidedly not a fan of pigeons at the volume’s start is the subject of an intense PR campaign. A group of children dressed as pigeons offer basic facts about pigeons; tell about relatives of present-day pigeons, including Do-dos and doves; and identify strange birds that are the result of pigeon breeding. These include the curly feathered Frillback; the long-legged, big-footed white Maltese; and the blue- hued Victoria Crowned, the largest living pigeon, named for Queen Victoria of England. The children also show the man the artistic appeal of pigeons: Pablo Picasso named his daughter, Paloma, Spanish for pigeon, and included pigeons in several paintings. This is a fun and fascinating look at a common, and much maligned, bird. (Ages 7–10)

Did you know a pigeon can fly faster than a car and farther than a small airplane? Or that they have something unusual in common with penguins, flamingos, and even the dodo? With his trademark mix of humor, well-researched facts, and artistry, Kevin McCloskey delivers the straight poop on these humble creatures, which turn out to be...coo, coo, COOL!