Schulman, Janet. 2008. PALE MALE. Ill. by Meilo So. New York: Alfred A. Knopf. ISBN 9780375845581

In this nonfiction picture book, Schulman introduces children to the red-tailed hawk that became a surprise resident of New York’s Central Park in 1991. Called “Pale Male” because of his light-colored plumage, this hawk lived and hunted in the park, thrilling passersby with his spectacular four-foot wingspread and aerial acrobatics. Pale Male brought a touch of the wild to the Park and found his way into the hearts of New Yorkers. Later, he took a mate and began nest building in various places nearby, finally settling atop the twelfth-floor window ledge of a swanky Fifth Avenue apartment building. While most people in NY reacted with surprise and delight to the hawks’ presence, the building’s residents complained about the messiness of the hawks’ nest. When the building’s owners removed it, an international outcry resulted in a storm of critical publicity and sidewalk protests. The building’s owners acquiesced and found a solution that was endorsed by all parties: the installation of a new, more expansive base for the nest and an apron below it to catch bothersome debris. Since then, with a succession of mates, Pale Male has raised multiple broods of chicks to maturity. The population of NYC now includes numerous red-tailed hawks believed to be his progeny.

Schulman writes with clarity and utilizes descriptive vocabulary, detailing Pale Male’s story as well as the problems hawks and city dwellers faced as they endeavored to overcome the difficulties of living together. Without sounding preachy, this account shows how with ingenuity and tolerance, humanity and wildlife can coexist.

Meilo So’s watercolor and colored pencil illustrations feature birds’-eye viewpoints, authentic NYC landscapes, and humorous details. She perfectly captures the bustle, excitement, and multicultural aspects of urban life. One can almost hear the taxi horns blare.

REVIEWS AND AWARDS

Starred reviews in Booklist, School Library Journal, Publishers Weekly, and Horn Book.

Publishers Weekly: "[T]his version stands out for its urbane, reportorial prose and stylish watercolors."

ALA/ALSC Notable Children’s Books 2009

SLJ Best Book of the Year 2008

Horn Book Fanfare Best Books 2008

NY Times Best Illustrated Children’s Book 2008

CONNECTIONS

Try a nature walk with children through a local park, a creative writing exercise about a personal wildlife encounter, a library research paragraph about raptors, or a watercolor painting project using feathers instead of brushes to extend the enjoyment of this engaging picture book.

Other materials for children featuring Pale Male or wildlife adapting to urban conditions:

Winter, Jeanette. THE TALE OF PALE MALE. 2007. Orlando, FL: Harcourt. ISBN 0152059725

Dr. Alexander Fisher. PALE MALE (Nature Series DVD). 2004. ASIN B000228E8G

Stetson, Emily. KIDS’ EASY-TO-CREATE WILDLIFE HABITATS. 2004. Nashville, TN: Williamson Books. ISBN 0824986652

Kirkland, Jane. TAKE A CITY NATURE WALK. 2005. Lionville, PA: Stillwater Publishing. ISBN 09709754