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Meisel, Paul

My Tiny Life by Ruby T. Hummingbird

40 pp. | Holiday | April, 2021 | Trade ISBN 978-0-8234-4322-2 $17.99
(2) K-3 Nature Diary series. A ruby-throated hummingbird joins Meisel's previous diarists--a praying mantis (My Awesome Summer, rev. 5/17), eastern bluebird (My Happy Year, rev. 5/19), and stink bug (My Stinky Summer, rev. 7/20)--in narrating his adventures through the seasons. From a teeny hatchling in a walnut-sized nest to a fully grown adult weighing "a little more than...two pennies," Ruby T. is tiny in stature but not in presence. The spare, journal-style text serves as captions for Meisel's lively mixed-media illustrations, which effectively capture the hummingbird's energy and quick movements. Entries track the creature's growth and discuss diet, behaviors, habitat, and migration--an epic journey requiring incredible endurance (see also Robert Burleigh's Tiny Bird, rev. 5/20). The pages focused on Ruby's aggressive territorial behaviors ("June 21: This flower is MINE! No, you don't!"), especially, will be crowd-pleasers. A glossary and list of suggested websites are appended; the illustrated front and back endpapers offer more in-depth information and a ­migration/habitat map. My Tiny Life leaves a big impression.
Reviewer: Kitty Flynn | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2021

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