From a large, ragged hole in the trunk of an old tree, a head suddenly appears. The bright red crest of feathers and long beak belong to a woodpecker. Safe inside the tree hole is her brood of hungry chicks. The mother bird has just made a delivery of tasty insects, and now she must take off again to search the forest for more food for her growing young. Filled with information perfectly suited to the abilities and interests of its second-grade audience, this colorful, fact-filled volume introduces young readers to the everyday life of a woodpecker. What does the bird eat? How does it find its food? Where do woodpeckers make their nests? And how do woodpeckers care for their chicks? Throughout the book, readers are encouraged to make scientific observations based on the book’s images and answer questions about the lives and physical characteristics of these busy birds. This innovative approach to teaching about wild animals gives young scientists the chance not only to read and learn the facts, but also to develop their own powers of observation and critical thinking.