The Oldest Bird in the World

The best children's animal books feature a fascinating animal with an interesting true story.

• Starred Review in Publisher's Weekly: "...Pattison writes crisply and evocatively..."

Meet Wisdom, the Midway Albatross—the oldest bird in the world! Banded on December 10, 1956, she is over 69 years old and still hatching chicks. Imagine what she's seen in her years of soaring over the north Pacific!

Surviving a Tsunami

On March 11, 2011, an earthquake struck off the coast of Japanese creating a massive tsunami. It struck Japan's coast, killing thousands and destroying a nuclear plant. But tsunami waves travel out in circles from the epicenter. As it raced across the Pacific Ocean, scientists on Midway Island braced for impact. 

Wisdom had nested at one of the highest spots on Midway Island, but would it survive? The tsunami struck at midnight. Scientists said the scariest thing was they could HEAR the water, but they couldn't SEE it. 

For years, Wisdom had survived manmade and natural disasters. She had braved living wild, plastic pollution, longline fishing, and lead poisoning. But could she survive the Japanese earthquake and tsunami?

In Kitty Harvill's luminous watercolors, the albatrosses come alive. Pattison’s careful research, vetted by scientists in the field, brings to life this this true story of a bird who must survive the wild, one year at a time.  

Banded Since 1956 - How Old is Wisdom?

On December 10, 1956, ornithologist Chandler Robbins banded 25 birds on Midway Island. One of those was Wisdom. She's been caught and given new bands seven times. There are older birds in captivity; there are probably older birds that didn't get banded. But Wisdom is the oldest known, wild bird in the world. They assumed she was five years old at the time of banding, because to breed and lay eggs, Laysan albatrosses must be at least five years old. That makes her almost 75 years old! Wow! 

Children's Animal Book Series

Bird. Mammal. Marine Mammal. Spider. Amphibian. Reptile. Mollusk.

The series is much more than just an introduction to the animal kingdom. It chronicles the story of how humans interact with animals in various ways: how we enjoy, challenge, admire, endanger, and save them. It's a fabulous children's animal book series for kids to learn about the amazing complexity of animals.

Award Winning Series - Children's Animal Books

Starred Reviews

• Wisdom, the Midway Albatross - Publisher’s Weekly
• Diego, the Galapagos Giant Tortoise - Kirkus 

National Science Teaching Association-Children’s Book Council Outstanding Science Trade Books

• Abayomi, the Brazilian Puma
• Nefertiti, the Spidernaut
• Jeremy, the English Garden Snail 

Best STEM Book

• Jeremy, the English Garden Snail