Common Sense Media Review
By Regan McMahon
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Exciting, fact-filled story of wild osprey chicks' rescue.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 7+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
SWOOP AND SOAR: HOW SCIENCE RESCUED TWO OSPEY ORPHANS AND FOUND THEM A NEW FAMILY IN THE WILD begins with a father osprey plunging into the ocean to catch fish to feed his two chicks back in the nest with their mother. Then a lightning storm and high winds cause their tree to crash and the chicks to fall out of the nest onto the forest floor. A wildlife biologist named Jack sees through binoculars what's happened -- and that the parent ospreys have left -- and he searches the forest to find the chicks. He finds them and takes them in to a wildlife center. When raptor biologist (and co-author of Swoop and Soar) Jane Veltkamp hears about the orphans, she quickly sets about finding the chicks a new nest with osprey foster parents.
Is It Any Good?
This riveting wildlife rescue story will keep kids engaged as they follow each perilous step toward the osprey chicks' survival. And large, clear color photos help readers grasp every new development. The first half of Swoop and Soar: How Science Rescued Two Osprey Orphans and Found Them a New Family in the Wild shows how a wildlife biologist rescues the two osprey chicks -- called Swoop and Soar in the story -- and how a raptor biologist finds them foster parents. The second half lays out loads of facts about ospreys: how they grow, how they learn to fly, what they eat, how they catch their food, how they use their beaks and talons, what they need to do to stay safe, and what humans can do to help protect them and other wildlife. It's an inspiring story of science in action that will help make readers more keenly aware of the need to protect wildlife, and might even inspire them to consider a career in science. Great for classroom or home reading.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the storytelling in Swoop and Soar: How Science Rescued Two Osprey Orphans and Found Them a New Family in the Wild. Was it exciting to see how Janie, the biologist, stepped in to help the chicks? How do the real-life photos help you understand the story and the science?
What's the most amazing fact you learned about ospreys? What surprised you the most?
Would you like to help save animals in the wild? What could you do where you live to help?
Book Details
- Authors :
- Genre : Science
- Topics : STEM , Animals ( Wild Animals )
- Character Strengths : Compassion , Courage , Curiosity , Perseverance , Teamwork
- Book type : Non-Fiction
- Publisher : Persnickety Press
- Publication date : September 5, 2022
- Number of pages : 56
- Available on : Hardback
- Award : Common Sense Selection
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate