An Egret's Day

Poems and photographs take readers up close to observe the daily life of the extraordinary Great Egret. A Great Egret rarely rests. This majestic bird, with its big feet, even bigger beak, and breathtaking lacy wings, is a treat to watch. With his camera, photographer Jason Stemple takes us close to these magnificent creatures to witness their physical—and quirky—beauty as well as their daily habits and behavior—soaring, hunting, preening, nesting—which most of us never get a chance to see. Meanwhile, celebrated poet Jane Yolen offers her keen observations in carefully-crafted poetry that is at once whimsical, thoughtful, and thought provoking. Interesting facts about the bird accompany each poem in this National Outdoor Book Awards Honor Book.

"The spare, well-crafted poems make excellent use of simile and metaphor. . . . The beautifully lit and composed photographs offer memorable images of the birds and their wetland habitat." --Booklist

* "A stunning combination of scientific and ecological knowledge offered through a graceful fusion of lyrical and visual media." --Kirkus Reviews, starred review

An award-winning author of more than 300 books offers carefully crafted, whimsical and thought-provoking poetry coupled with breathtaking photography that celebrates the magnificent, majestic Great Egret.

Combines poetry and factual text about egrets, describing how these elegant birds walk, eat, and fly and how their plumes were once in demand for adorning clothing and hats.

Jane Yolen has received numerous awards for her writing, including the Golden Kite Award, two Christopher Medals, and both the Kerlan Award from the University of Minnesota and the Regina Medal for her body of work. In 2011 she was named Grand Master by the Science Fiction Poetry Association. She lives in Hatfield, Massachusetts, and St. Andrews, Scotland. Jason Stemple is free-lance photographer who provided the photographs for A Mirror to Nature by Jane Yolen, winner of the John Burroughs Young Readers Award and for Wild Things by Jane Yolen, winner of the National Outdoor Book Award. He was recently named an Artist in Residence at the Everglades National Park in Florida. He lives in Charleston, South Carolina.