Matt’s beautiful books on birds are by pop artist Matt Sewell. Not just a gifted artist, he is a passionate ornithologist, whose neat & funny (yet scientifically accurate descriptions) are educating a whole new generation on the wonders of birds both in England, and worldwide. If you know someone who likes birds, gift them one or two of Matt’s books. They are truly entertaining, and anyone will enjoy them, and begin to develop a respect and fascination for our feathered friends. There are several in the series: Matt’s designs are on Isle of Man stamps.
- Our Garden Birds features 52 birds, one for every week of the year. From the ‘playful yet shy buoyancy’ of bullfinches and the waxwing (‘like a computer-generated samurai finch’) to great tits ‘bossing the other birds around’.
- A Charm of Goldfinches (and other collective nouns) blends bird-watching with grammar. Do you know what to call groups of birds and other creatures? You will after reading this: a an ascension of larks, a murder of crows and a cloud of bats.
- Our Woodland Birds meets bramble-picking blue tits, a flight of finches & a parliament of tawny owls, expressing the individual characters of woodland birds, like never before.
- Our Songbirds introduces you to the peewit (who sings the blues) and the bittern (who fills his neck ‘like a tweed pair of bellows’).
Matt’s Book on Our Charming Owls
Owls: Our Most Enchanting Bird is a beautifully illustrated book to our native owls by pop artist Matt Sewell. He’s also a really interesting quirky writer, you’ve never seen bird information books like this.
His mellow single hoots sound like the subdued ‘woofs’ of a dog who’s trying very, very hard not to wake you. Or you may hear his deep, persistent chuckle: whatever the joke, he finds it hilarious.
The Northern Saw-Whet Owl is an absolute darling: a permanent look of surprise, spread across his adorable little face.
To be honest; owls aren’t the brightest of birds. Amazing as they are, parrots & crows are much smarter. It’s all in the eyes; those magnificent piercing optics are what make all owls look like they are steeped in long-lost knowledge.
- Atlas of Amazing Birds meets the bald eagle (a nest can weigh over 2 tons), the elf owl (who plays dead, when in trouble) and the Adelie penguin (which can hold his breath for 6 minutes, and leap up to 3 metres out of the water). Meet birds that migrate thousands of miles, have strange & showy mating rituals survive in extreme environments, are brilliant builders – or are super-fast, super-brave or super-big! From tiny hummingbirds & towering ostriches to stunning peacocks.
- Penguins & Other Seabirds meets the Galápagos Penguin (his speckled markings make each as unique as a snowflake), the Emperor Penguin (weighs the same as Labrador retriever) and Adélie Penguin (takes name from the sweetheart of a Napoleonic naval captain turned explorer).
