Jane Yolen Talks to Birds – and Gives Birder Advice: The BTPS Interview
Merlin. Small, deadly, gorgeous in flight, and
Award-winning writer, bestseller, and storyteller
extraordinaire Jane Yolen has written more than 365
books – and the whole time she’s been a bird lover,
too. Her Cornell Lab Publishing Group titles On Duck
Pond and On Bird Hill will be released in paperback
this spring. Her On Bird Hill and Beyond series fea-
tures stories about birds in different settings. Crow Not
Crow features a story and bird-identification-method
combination, and her extensive backmatter in the
books helps introduce and detail the species covered
in the story. We reached her via e-mail at her home
in Massachusetts.
BTPS: Jane –you get to give the gift of human
speech to a member of three different bird
species, and hang out and talk with each of them
for a day about their lives. Which three species
do you choose and why?
JY: Great horned owl because they are so
gorgeous, their flight is so mysteriously silent.
Actually it's because of how their feathers are
configured, but it is still a mystery to the little
natures down below. One minute there isn't an
owl and the next it's: Danger! Danger! Dang. . . .
and ask if I could see the cats close up.
handsome denizen in medieval mews. I fell
in love with the wizard Merlin and the bird
merlin in the king's mews at the same time
(childhood) and place (the pages of T. H.
White's Once & Future King.
The cuckoo, a small and assuming little bird
whose voice can fill a Scottish glen. Reminds
me of me. I live part of the year in Scotland.
And with 376 books already in print and 28
(at last count, under contract) it's safe to say I
am like the cuckoo--small (5'2), with a loud,
ringing voice.
BTPS: We loved reading that you ran a
newspaper on the happenings in your apartment
building when you were a kid. Can you share a
story about one of your favorite pieces from that
time?
JY: Are you kidding! I was probably 8 and
about to turn 80. I barely remember living at
370 Central Park West, fourth floor. So instead,
I will tell you three things I DO remember
about that time.
1) I used to sit on the window seat that
overlooked Central Park, where I read
and read and read. My younger brother
complained that I was no fun because I was
always reading.
2) My bedroom backed onto a
closed alleyway and I could see into
a neighbor's windows on the third floor. She
was the Cat Lady (if only in my mind!) and
had dozens of cats, or so it seemed. One day
I got brave enough to knock on her door
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She was gracious enough to let me. And
from then on, we'd wave at one another
across the alley. I used to hold up a sign
that said, "Can I come over and see the cats?
And when she nodded, off I would go.
3) I MAY have written about one of our
neighbors who was teaching a banjo player
named Pete Seeger to speak Russian. Or,
maybe not.
BTPS: What advice would you give to parents,
teachers, and kids about becoming birders and
learning more from nature? Is it as easy as going
outside or are there some tips you believe will
help make the most of those wanting to try it
together?
JY: Again, three things (because as a fairy tale
writer, I love the power of three).
1) Get yourself a good (though not
necessarily the most expensive) binoculars.
2) Also, a good bird identification book.
You can ask several birders which ones they
prefer. We always had dozens, for different
areas.
3) Find out if there is an Audubon Society
or bird group in your area and learn from
them what to expect. Are there owls around.
Raptors? Regular visitors? Exotics?
Oh, and as a special treat, find out if there are
any bird rehabilitators in your area. They can
always use a helping hand.
Happy watching!
888.814.0208 (toll free)
567.215.0030
On Bird Hill And Beyond Series
One part charming illustrated story, one part lesson on the species in each setting with extensive backmatter.

On Gull Beach On Duck Pond

Jane Yolen, illustrated by Bob Marstall Jane Yolen, illustrated by Bob Marstall

978-1-943645-35-0 978-1-943645-36-7
NEW NEW
Paperback Paperback
USD $8.95 (CAN $11.95) USD $8.95 (CAN $11.95)
11 x 9, 36 pages 11 x 9, 32 pages
JUVENILE FICTION / Animals / Birds JUVENILE FICTION / Animals / Birds
Hardcover also Available March 2019 Hardcover also Available March 2019
978-1-943645-18-3 978-1-943645-22-0
USD $15.95 (CAN $20.95) USD $15.95 (CAN $20.95)

On Bird Hill Crow Not Crow

Jane Yolen, illustrated by Bob Marstall
978-1-943645-30-5 Crow Not Crow
NEW Jane Yolen, Adam Stemple, illustrated by Elizabeth Dulemba
Paperback
USD $8.95 (CAN $11.95) 978-1-943645-31-2
11 x 9, 32 pages Hardcover
JUVENILE FICTION / Animals / Birds USD $15.95 (CAN $20.95)
Hardcover also Available March 2019 11 x 9, 36 pages
978-1-943645-02-2 JUVENILE FICTION / Animals / Birds
USD $15.95 (CAN $20.95) Available

Little Frog and the Four Seasons Series

Little Frog and the Scary Autumn Thing Little Frog and the Spring Polliwogs
Jane Yolen, illustrated by Ellen Shi Jane Yolen, illustrated by Ellen Shi

978-1-943978-41-0 978-1-943978-37-3
NEW NEW
Paperback Paperback
USD $8.95 (CAN $11.95) USD $8.95 (CAN $11.95)
11 x 9, 32 pages 11 x 9, 32 pages
JUVENILE FICTION / Social Themes / JUVENILE FICTION / Social Themes /
Hardcover also Available Emotions & Feelings Hardcover also Available Emotions & Feelings
978-1-943978-01-4 March 2019 978-1-943978-22-9 March 2019
USD $15.95 (CAN $20.95) USD $15.95 (CAN $20.95)

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