N is for A Nest for Celeste

A couple of years ago I saw, A Nest for Celeste recommended for our study of history. It sounded really interesting, so I purchased it to use with my children. When it came in I sat down to look through it a bit before I gave it to my son to read and ended up reading the entire book. It was a fun and engaging book that combines art, history, science, and fiction.

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Written and illustrated by Henry Cole, this book tells a bit about the life of James Audubon through the eyes of his young apprentice Joseph and Joseph’s friend Celeste the mouse. If you are looking for a biography of James Audubon this is not the book for you, however, if you are looking for a book that can introduce James Audubon while getting kids excited about birds and nature this may be a great choice. The illustrations are done in beautiful detailed black and white pencil sketches.

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The story tells of Joseph’s adventures as he travels with James Audubon and helps him to collect and draw specimens for his research. There is some sadness in the book as animals are killed in order to be saved for drawing but it is well written and appropriate for most children. Many of the events in the book are based on real events recorded in James Audubon’s journals. Joseph was also a real person and apprentice; though Celeste, of course, is fictional.

This book is a great independent read for upper elementary school students and possibly even middle school. It is also a good family read aloud for younger children. And don’t tell my children because I have not bought it yet, but as I was putting this post together I found this sequel, Another Quest For Celeste. I will be adding it to my wish list!

In addition to A Nest for Celeste, I want to recommend that you check out the scripture based picture book Nothing that I reviewed a couple weeks ago. It is a beautiful book that is perfect for preschool and early elementary students.

Tell me what books come to mind when you think of the letter N. Have you read A Nest for Celeste or Nothing?

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