The Triumphant Tale of the House Sparrow

Jan Thornhill (Author)
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SKU
119971
Product Type: Hardcover Books
Age Groups: Ages 10 to 12

The extraordinary story of one of the most adaptable creatures on Earth.

Behold the most despised bird in human history!

So begins Jan Thornhill's riveting, beautifully illustrated story of the House Sparrow. She traces the history of this perky little bird, one of the most adaptable creatures on Earth, from its beginnings in the Middle East to its spread with the growth of agriculture into India, North Africa, and Europe. Everywhere the House Sparrow went, it competed with humans for grain, becoming such a pest that in some places "sparrow catcher" became an actual job and bounties were paid to those who got rid of it.

But not everyone hated the House Sparrow, and in 1852, fifty pairs were released in New York City. In no time at all, the bird had spread from coast to coast. Then suddenly, at the turn of the century, as cars took over from horses and there was less grain to be found, its numbers began to decline. As our homes, gardens, cities and farmland have changed, providing fewer nesting and feeding opportunities, the House Sparrow's numbers have begun to decline again -- though in England and Holland this decline appears to be slowing. Perhaps this clever little bird is simply adapting once more.

This fascinating book includes the life history of the House Sparrow and descriptions of how the Ancient Egyptians fed it to the animals they later mummified, how it traveled to Great Britain as a stowaway on ships carrying Roman soldiers, and how its cousin, the Eurasian Tree Sparrow, was almost eradicated in China when Mao declared war on it. A wealth of back matter material is also supplied.

More Information
SKU 119971
ISBN 9781773060064
Language English
Lexile ® Measure 1010L
Page Count 44
Product Type Hardcover Books
Book Type Picture Books
Primary Contributor Jan Thornhill
Age Groups Ages 10 to 12
Publisher House of Anansi Press