Hawk Rising by Maria Gianferrari Illustrated by Brian Floca
Hawk Rising is a narrative non-fiction picture book which tells the story of mother and daughter observing a father hawk hunting for prey for his family.
At the beginning, the mood is calm with both the family and the hawk waking up to begin their day. Father Hawk perches at the top of a pole to survey the land for his family’s next meal. The mother and daughter notice the hawk from their suburban backyard.
The mood quickly turns tense as Father Hawk swoops down to catch a chipmunk. To the hawk’s dismay, the rodent escapes running under a porch. However, Father Hawk is not deterred and continues his search for food even as the sun is setting for the night. The story has a thrilling ending with Father Hawk victorious in his quest to feed his brood.
I am a such fan of Maria Gianferari’s writing. The text is true poetry, for she chooses her words carefully to dramatically describe the family’s actions and feelings as well as the hawk’s pursuit. Coupling Maria Gianferrari’s words with Brian Floca’s illustrations, the story takes flight. Floca’s illustration vividly convey not only Father Hawk’s determination, but also the young daughter’s apprehension of seeing the hawk succeed in his mission.
Special thanks to Maria Gianferrari for sharing an ARC of Hawk Rising with my #bookexcursion group. It will be published in May 2018.
Beagles & Books 
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