John Audubon by Miriam E. Mason Is a Biography of John Audubon, a Wildlife Artist

May 31, 2011

Dear Reader,

John Audubon by Miriam E. Mason is a biography of John Audubon, a wildlife artist. This book tells you about John Audubon’s life as a child and a young man. Even from a young age he loved birds and was mesmerized by them. As he got older he began to draw them and made a book with life-sized drawings of North American birds. I thought the ending of the book was too abrupt. I think the writer should have told more about John Audubon’s life as an adult and about the time when he was drawing birds for his book, The Birds of North America. If the author had included this, it would have made the book longer and I like reading long books. It finished too soon! I chose this book because it was about an artist and I am also an artist. I wanted to read about an artist’s life in a different time. John Audubon liked to draw wild life, particularly birds, and both my father and grandfather are bird watchers. So that inspired me to read about a person who was also a bird watcher. I was surprised when John gave Cecile a stuffed snake wrapped around a candlestick for her birthday. I thought he would know that 13 year old girls do not want an old candlestick for a birthday present! I was even more surprised that he didn’t care that Cecile hadn’t liked his gift. He just said thank you for a good party and left. First of all, I would have bought a mirror or some jewelry for a present and secondly, I would say sorry if she didn’t like my gift. “He crouched low, watching. He had heard that the careless cuckoo never builds a nest, but lays its eggs in the nests of other birds to be hatched. Now he was going to see.” I chose this passage because I never knew that the cuckoo did this and it is an interesting fact. I also think its funny that when the cuckoo hatches the parents find the baby chick can be as big as them! I would rate this book 4 ½ out of five stars because it was interesting to learn about an artist’s life as I am an artist too.

Sincerely, Jack Sample Letter After Finishing a Non- fiction (Biography) Book: John Audubon 1. Date

May 31, 2011

2. Opening Dear Reader, 3. Introduction John Audubon by Miriam E. Mason is a biography of John Audubon, paragraph –book a wildlife artist. title, author, etc. This book tells you about John Audubon’s life as a child and a 4. Summary paragraph young man. Even from a young age he loved birds and was mesmerized by – SHORT summary of them. As he got older he began to draw them and made a book with life- book – include main characters, setting, sized drawings of North American birds. plot I thought the ending of the book was too abrupt. I think the writer should have told more about John Audubon’s life as an adult and 5. 3 other about the time when he was drawing birds for his book, The Birds of paragraphs – North America. If the author had included this, it would have made the choose at least 3 book longer and I like reading long books. It finished too soon! options from reflection choices I chose this book because it was about an artist and I am also an and write a 2-3 artist. I wanted to read about an artist’s life in a different time. John sentence Audubon liked to draw wild life, particularly birds, and both my father paragraph on each and grandfather are bird watchers. So that inspired me to read about a one! person who was also a bird watcher. I was surprised when John gave Cecile a stuffed snake wrapped around a candlestick for her birthday. I thought he would know that 13 year old girls do not want an old candlestick for a birthday present! I was even more surprised that he didn’t care that Cecile hadn’t liked his gift. He just said thank you for a good party and left. First of all, I would have bought a mirror or some jewelry for a present and secondly, I would say sorry if she didn’t like my gift. 6. Choose a specific passage “He crouched low, watching. He had heard that the careless and COPY it and cuckoo never builds a nest, but lays its eggs in the nests of other birds explain why you to be hatched. Now he was going to see.” I chose this passage because I chose it! never knew that the cuckoo did this and it is an interesting fact. I also think its funny that when the cuckoo hatches the parents find the baby chick can be as big as them! 7. Rate your book out of 5 stars and I would rate this book 4 ½ out of five stars because it was explain your rating. interesting to learn about an artist’s life as I am an artist too. Sincerely, Jack 8. Closing