Poodles, Piffy and Zenzi, wonder what “birding” means. On a birding day out with their human friends, the dogs discover a diversity of birds and other species inhabiting wetlands. They learn about the special adaptations to living in aquatic habitats and the vital role wetlands play in our everyday lives. Join these two cheeky pups on their birding adventure—a journey that leads to a threatened bird few have ever seen…
Written by Kirsty Kyle
Illustrated by Karlien Muller
Target ages 9-12
Concepts: The story teaches bird identification and ecology (sexual dimorphism, bill adaptations, behaviours), wetland science (formation, natural filtration systems, ecosystem services), and conservation (threats like pollution and drainage, actions like recycling and habitat protection).
Skills: Children build scientific observation and species identification skills, reading and vocabulary (technical terms like biodiversity, peat, dimorphism), environmental literacy about ecosystem functions, and critical thinking by comparing species and understanding structure-function relationships in nature.
Find the read-along audiobook video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGUCv7JqE-4