Paper Birds That Fly

Barbara M. Buetter conducts creative-writing workshops for children and
is the author of Simple Puppets from Everyday Materials.

This well-designed book gives directions for making 15 paper birds,
including a blue jay, a flamingo, a peregrine falcon, and a prehistoric
pterosaur. The introduction offers a wealth of information about
flight—the two main kinds of bird flight, the physiology of a bird’s
wing and tail, and the science of how birds and planes fly. For each
project, there are detailed instructions and diagrams, a photograph of
the finished bird, and an actual-size drawing of the bird’s shape and
patterns. Also included are descriptions of each bird’s appearance,
flight behavior, and habitat. The book, which includes a glossary of
terms and suggested further reading, presents a great deal of
information in a straightforward and appealing manner.

Just as the mechanics of flight are complicated, so too are the steps
for constructing these paper birds. Accuracy is essential for successful
results, and some experimentation is necessary in order to achieve
maximum performance. Required materials are inexpensive (bond paper,
pencil, scissors or craft knife, glue, and a ruler).

Paper Birds That Fly would make an excellent addition to a high-school
library. Highly recommended.