Book cover of The Boy Who Drew Birds: A Story of John James Audubon

Book description

John James Audubon was a boy who loved the out-of-doors more than the in. He was a boy who believed in studying birds in nature, not just from books. And, in the fall of 1804, he was a boy determined to learn if the small birds nesting near his Pennsylvania…

When you buy books, we may earn a commission that helps keep our lights on (or join the rebellion as a member).

Why read it?

1 author picked The Boy Who Drew Birds as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Before Roger Tory Peterson, there was Louis. Before Louis, there was John James Audubon – another amazing wildlife artist. But what makes this picture book biography different is that the author Jacqueline Davies shows how John J. solved a century’s old mystery – Where do birds go in winter?

Intensely curious, John J. decided to tie a tiny piece of wire around a bird’s leg. You’ll have to read the book to find out what happened next, but I think you’ll agree that John’s simple experiment was one of the biggest innovations in ornithology. Beautifully written and illustrated, this…

If you love The Boy Who Drew Birds...

Book cover of December on 5C4

December on 5C4 by Adam Strassberg,

Magical realism meets the magic of Christmas in this mix of Jewish, New Testament, and Santa stories–all reenacted in an urban psychiatric hospital!

On locked ward 5C4, Josh, a patient with many similarities to Jesus, is hospitalized concurrently with Nick, a patient with many similarities to Santa. The two argue…

Want books like The Boy Who Drew Birds?

Our community of 13,000+ authors has personally recommended 100 books like The Boy Who Drew Birds.

Browse books like The Boy Who Drew Birds

Book cover of Feathers: Not Just for Flying
Book cover of Counting Birds: The Idea That Helped Save Our Feathered Friends
Book cover of The Sky Painter: Louis Fuertes, Bird Artist

Share your top 3 reads of 2026!

And get a beautiful page showing off your 3 favorite reads.

183

readers submitted
so far, will you?

📚 If you like The Boy Who Drew Birds, you might also like...

Book cover of Child of Vanris

Child of Vanris by Nikki McCormack,

At five years old, Kasiel was found with the pointed ends of his ears cut off. Despite that brutal start, he’s lived twelve peaceful years with the man who took him in. Keeping his hair long over his mutilated ears helps him hide the fact that he is Vanrian, a…

Book cover of Almost Home

Almost Home by Howard Means,

Almost Home is a fictional retelling of the last great tragedy of the Civil War.

In late April 1865, almost 2,000 newly freed Union prisoners of war are packed onto the steamer Sultana, in poor repair and with a listed capacity of 376 passengers. Among them are four Indiana soldiers…

5 book lists we think you will like!