The Triumphant Tale of the House Sparrow

About this book

The content encourages us to reflect upon and evaluate the relationship between human beings and animals. This book leaves us with admiration for this feisty bird and hope for our world. Friends Journal Behold the most despised bird in human history! So begins Jan Thornhills 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 Sparrows 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. Key Text Features map glossary references resources further information Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.3.3 Describe the relationship between a series of historical events scientific ideas or concepts or steps in technical procedures in a text using language that pertains to time sequence and cause/effect. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.3.7 Use information gained from illustrations (e.g. maps photographs) and the words in a text to demonstrate understanding of the text (e.g. where when why and how key events occur). CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.4.3 Explain events procedures ideas or concepts in a historical scientific or technical text including what happened and why based on specific information in the text. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.5.3 Explain the relationships or interactions between two or more individuals events ideas or concepts in a historical scientific or technical text based on specific information in the text. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.6.2 Determine a central idea of a text and how it is conveyed through particular details; provide a summary of the text distinct from personal opinions or judgments.