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Pale Male: Citizen Hawk of New York City.
Schulman, Janet (author).
Illustrated by Meilo So.
Mar. 2008. 40p. Knopf, hardcover, $16.99 (0-375-84558-5); library edition, $19.99 (0-375-94558-X). Grades 1-3. 598.9.
REVIEW.
First published February 15, 2008 (Booklist).
In the fall of 1991, a red-tailed hawk flew over Central Park. Unlike most of the migratory birds that only rest briefly in New York City’s urban oasis, this bird stayed to make a home. The hawk, named Pale Male by excited birdwatchers, chose a mate and built a nest on a high window ledge on one of the city’s most exclusive buildings. The well-heeled residents quickly tired of stepping over Pale Male’s garbage, and they removed the nest. Animal protection organizations and the bird’s thousands of fans protested, and Pale Male was allowed to return to the building, eventually producing 23 chicks. Schulman’s leisurely, engaging story, offers far more detail than Jeannette Winter’s The Tale of Pale Male (2007), and children may have questions about specific references, from Central Park sites to the Audubon Society. The stunning watercolor-and-pencil illustrations are both whimsical and elegant, and their beautiful contrasting views of the bird soaring above the wild park and the forest of skyscrapers will ignite children’s curiosity in both urban animals and the caring people who help protect them. An author’s note concludes. — Gillian Engberg
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