Consider the Birds by Jennifer Grant

This gentle picture book invites young children to consider the birds … and then consider how much God cares for his people, too.

Consider the Birds by Jennifer Grant, illustrated by Julianna Swaney. Eerdmans, 2025. 32 pages.

• Reading Level: Picture books, ages 0-4
• Recommended For: Ages 0-6

“Hungry and loud, One blue jay dives down from way up high.”

A pastoral scene, complete with edge of house, tree with pink blossoms, and a bird feeder is the setting as we see this loud blue jay flying in. Two birds peck the ground under the bird feeder. When we turn the page, we learn that they are mourning doves who mate for life.

Consecutive pages reveal that this is more than a simple counting book, adding more numbers each page. A small story unfolds as chickadees, wrens, and a cardinal join the jay and doves. A squirrel interrupts, scattering some birds. Not all birds want food from the feeder, either. Some eat bugs!

Deceptively simple, this gentle picture book offers much to look at and learn from. The birds are pictured accurately, both in habitat and behavior (and size/color), and little facts drop seamlessly from the text (such as which birds eat bugs and that mourning doves mate for life).

This would be a lovely counting book, fit for bedtime or a quiet afternoon, but the final page raises the bar just enough for its preschool audience: Consider the birds of the air — and then remember that God loves you, too.

Bottom Line: A lovely, sweet option for a church nursery library or baby gift or a young child’s shelf.

Recommended Reading at Redeemed Reader

• Book Reviews: Eerdmans produces unique picture books, many of which we have reviewed. Some of our other favorites are Otto and the Story Tree, The Most Beautiful Winter, and Counting Winter.
• Book Reviews: Young children who love animals may be interested in Animals of the National Parks or God’s Little Oceanographer.
• Resource: We also have a Bird Booklist!

You may purchase Consider the Birds from amazon.