Sparrows by Hans Post and Kees Heij, illustrated by Irene Goede

Open this book and fully enter the world of the house sparrow.  From eggs to flight, the reader follows the birds as they catch food for their young, feed them, and then as the babies move from the nest to becoming fledglings.  The seasons change and we get to see how the sparrows live in each season until spring returns and new nests are built. 

The simple language of the book with its frank but child-friendly tone is very nice.  The illustrations are realistic, often featuring close ups on white backgrounds to clearly show what the text is speaking about.  Some of the illustrations are from interesting perspectives including the point of view of a fledgling looking to fly. 

Most children have sparrows around their house but few will think about the details of their lives until now.  This book is an accessible early nonfiction title for children on a subject they can easily relate to.  Appropriate for ages 4-6.