  | Pau : the last song of the Kaua'i'o'o Author: Piedra, Tony | |
| Price: $23.78 | ||
Summary:
Millions of years ago, the island of Kaua'i began to bloom with life, color, and sound. In time, the 'o'o bird added its song to the island chorus. Then a new species arrived: people. The impact of more and more humans meant fewer and fewer Kaua'i'o'o. When scientists realized these unique birds were disappearing from the island, they deepened their efforts to observe them, including by recording their song. In time, only a single Kaua'i 'o'o was singing.
| Illustrator: | Joy, Mackenzie |
| Accelerated Reader Information: Interest Level: LG Reading Level: 2.30 Points: .5 Quiz: 551834 |
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (07/01/24)
Booklist (09/01/24)
Full Text Reviews:
Booklist - 09/01/2024 For hundreds of thousands of years, the ‘o‘o bird flourished on Kaua‘i, singing from the trees. Human arrival and accompanying fauna pushed the ‘o‘o further inland, away from the new villages and gardens, but plenty of habitable space remained. The eighteenth century brought European settlers and more ecologically devastating creatures, and expanding farms and towns forced the bird into inhospitable areas. In the 1980s, concern for the dwindling ‘o‘o population sent researchers scouting for the elusive birds; one remaining male was recorded calling for a nonexistent mate, and the ‘o‘o was last heard on April 29, 1987. Pau—the Hawaiian word for “finished”—is a haunting introduction to both a beautiful little bird and the concept of human-induced extinction. The immersive illustrations are cleverly time stamped to give readers an indication of how quickly the birds disappeared, and the ‘o‘o’s song is made visible as a delicate wisp floating poignantly through the pages. Extensive back matter includes a QR code that leads to the recording of the song. A remarkably moving meditation on extinction and an impassioned call for conservation. - Copyright 2024 Booklist.
