Super Swifts: Small Birds with Amazing Powers by Justin Anderson, illustrated by Clover Robin

It's not a recognized series or imprint, but periodically Candlewick releases nonfiction picture books, specifically focusing on different animals, that I think are great core collection purchases. The books have a basic thread of text, sometimes short enough to be read in storytime, sometimes needing a little editing. Each page also features smaller, inset paragraphs with additional facts. There is brief back matter at the end that always includes an index.

This title is one of the newer additions to this "series" I've seen and is of special interest (to me at least) because of the chimney swifts we've had getting trapped in the library basement over the years. Yes, the basement, it's a long story and I think/hope the problem is resolved.

Anyways, the text in this story about common swifts is a little lengthy for storytime, but could easily be adapted. It follows a female common swift on a long journey from Africa to Europe, adding details about the swifts' abilities, the challenges they face (including crossing the Sahara desert), and their unique skills - they can stay airborne for years! When she finally arrives in Britain, our swift nests and raises her chicks, getting them ready to make the long journey back to Africa.

Collage-style illustrations with cloudy colors show the swifts swirling through blue skies, drifting through the night, and tucked up cozily in their nests.

Verdict: A strong addition to nonfiction picture book collections, although this features a swift that is not native to the US it's a good starting point for learning about native birds and getting kids interested in nature.

ISBN: 9781536231489; Reinforced/Picture book on Baker & Taylor for $15.19

Published September 2024 by Candlewick; Review copy provided by publisher and donated to the library