This book was a great read and painted John Audubon, literally and figuratively, in a raw, natural way. The book itself was written beautifully, with vivid language and attention to detail. However, I found it most interesting in how it depicted Audubon's fascination with nature. It was as if he were an animal himself, learning the way of the natural order. I had not previously known that he had befriended Shawnee and Osage tribes to learn from them and was even taken under the famous Boone's wings. I did know previously how much he loved birds either. His fascination with them led him to knowing them by name, almost if not all. He dreamed of painting them in a life-size portrait. Lastly, I learned how much he truly belonged to the wilderness and spent everyday of his life trying to find his place in it by observing the natural way of it. ( )

For a guy who painted birds, his story (whether or not it's all true) is a lot more exciting than you'd think. ( )

An informative book that discusses the life and works of John James Audubon, a naturalist and an acclaimed painter. Born in France, Audubon is shown as a young man who is more interested in the wilderness and wildlife than his business. In 1804, he immigrated to America to open a store in Kentucky. While in the frontier, he went through multiple hardships, like earthquakes, bears and freezing winds. But nothing deterred him from his task of painting and cataloging birds and other wildlife. During his travels, Audubon had some interesting experiences. The stories about the swift nest in the sycamore tree or the flocks of birds that he witnessed are fascinating accounts of a world that is no more. The excellent illustrations compliment the text. They successfully capture the images of the American wilderness.
Although a great read, as a high school Biology teacher, I fail to see how I can use it in my class. I will recommend it to be read to a younger audience. There can be a lesson on how the American wildlife has changed from Audubon's times. It is noteworthy to note that in one of his stories Audubon saw "immense flocks of Trumpeter swans" covering a frozen river. This becomes especially relevant since in the last few years these magnificent birds had been endangered and there have been multiple projects to bring their numbers back to normal. Students can definitely discuss factors that have accelerated the erosion of our wilderness. ( )

This book gives a brief history of the the life of John James Audubon. He explored the American frontier and painted the animals he saw along the way. This book is very basic and is best intended for younger children. I would most likely have very little use for it in my classroom. ( )

This book is a great example of how illustrations can enhance text. Comparing Armstrong's book to Robert Burleigh's Into the Wild: John James Audubon Lives His Dream, I found the illustrations in Armstrong's book to be more accurate and engaging. For instance, JJ Audubon has been said to have drawn his pictures while using a drawing tool in each of his hands. The pictures in Burleigh's book fail to maintain this accuracy, whereas Armstrong's makes a point to include this fact about Audubon.

The depth of information in Armstrong's book resurrects Audubon and brings him into today's world, engaging readers in the intricate details of his life story.

Needless to say, I found Armstrong's book to be a realistic take on Audubon's life and explorations. I would certainly use this book in lower grade classes if it was relevant to the current topics. I could see it being utilized effectively in a History class. ( )