Parrots over Puerto Rico by Susan L. Roth (review)

In this cross-disciplinary picture book, Roth and Trumbore trace the history of the Puerto Rican parrot, the only parrot indigenous to the United States and its territories, linking the bird to the history of the island itself. The book examines the ways humans have affected the environment for the parrot, from the early Taíno people to European settlers to the current populace. The parrot nearly became extinct by the mid-twentieth century due to habitat destruction and competition from invasive species and both historical and contemporary efforts to protect the parrot are described. The book is notable for its parallel treatment of both social and ecological histories, offered in engaging and descriptive prose—hardly a page goes by without the refrain of the parrots’ call (Iguaca!). The paper and fabric collage illustrations are lush with texture, using fine detail to show off the verdant landscape and dramatic unfolding of events; the book’s vertical format highlights the flight of the birds over Puerto Rico, with visual depictions of the parrots and their lives displayed above text about the island’s development and colonization. This can certainly serve as a crossover between social studies and science classrooms, but the story’s vivid enough to stand on its own as a grand environmental narrative. An afterword includes photographs and additional information about conservation efforts, while additional back matter includes a timeline and bibliography.