The Puffin Plan

Synopsis:

“Fifty years ago, a young ornithologist named Steve Kress fell in love with puffins. After learning that hunting had eradicated their colonies on small, rocky islands off the coast of Maine, he resolved to bring them back. So began a decades-long quest that involved collecting chicks in Canada, flying them to Maine, raising them in coffee-can nests, transporting them to their new island home, watching over them as they grew, and then waiting—for years—to see if they would come back. This is the story of how the Puffin Project reclaimed a piece of our rich biological heritage, and how it inspired other groups around the world to help other species re-root in their native lands.”

My Thoughts:

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I opened this book. But what I found was an engaging story of a kid whose passion for the great outdoors led to a fascinating life. Stephen brought puffins back to an area that they had disappeared from long ago.

Birds equally terrify me and fascinate me. I have that horrible fear they might fly and get stuck in my hair – not sure why, it’s just there. But, I also find them endlessly interesting. My partner participated for a few years in the World Series of Birding. A competition to identify the most species of birds in the state of New Jersey over the course of 24 hours. Although I never participated, he always brought home amazing stories and photographs.

Review:

What I enjoyed most about this title is that it was so easy to read. The pace kept moving and I was excited to learn about an experiment that was years in the making written by the person at its helm. You really get how passionate Stephen is about the birds that he’s worked with for so many years. I think The Puffin Plan showed how long science really takes and that it doesn’t happen instantaneously. I also liked how the experiment with puffins was also affected by so many factors. You learn how interconnected the success of puffins is on everything around them.

Keeping this story relevant to kids in 2020, I also appreciated that we see what this project looks like today compared to when it began in 1973. The current administration, climate change, and more are constant reminders that change needs to happen in more ways to make obvious impacts.

One of my only qualms is that I wish the title had larger images. You see this a lot more in non-fiction for kids, very graphically designed books with sidebars, images, graphs, and more that keep kids engaged with the text.

Overall, if you have a naturalist and scientist at home, this is a great title to share. You can learn more about The Puffin Plan by visiting the Audubon website.

Learn More:

If you’re inspired to learn more about birds, check out the title Moonbird: A Year on the Wind with the Great Survivor B95 by Phillip Hoose. This is the story of a bird who has flown over 9,000 miles multiple times during his life. A fascinating story about an animal I knew very little about.

Need to Know:

Title: The Puffin Plan: Restoring Seabirds to Egg Rock and Beyond
Author: Stephen W. Kress & Derrick Z. Jackson
Publisher: Tumble Home
Publication Date: January 7, 2020
Page Number: 200 pgs.

I received a copy of this title in exchange for an honest review.