"[Gibson]'s book is a stunner. The wealth of imagery and the range of intelligence are grand, the kinds of relationships with birds he sets out nearly bewildering... Gorgeous... It's what I'll take to bed tonight to incite my dreams."
—Barry Lopez


"Nights owls, rejoice! Graeme Gibson's The Bedside Book of Birds: An Avian Miscellany is worth staying up for. Flipping through these gorgeously illustrated pages, you might light on a folktale, a short story, an excerpt from a naturalist's journal, a creation myth, or a recipe....Gibson's own graceful and erudite essays tell of the pleasure, fear, confusion, or hope that birds inspire, and their imperilled place in nature. Keep this volume tucked under your wing."
—Oprah Magazine


"In this intriguing, beautifully illustrated volume, Canadian writer and birder Gibson employs poems, folk tales, parables, legends, and extracts from the works of naturalists and others to explore humans' relationships with birds through the centuries....The book contains more than 100 stunning full-color images of birds depicted in bestiaries, folk art, ancient sculpture and the works of artists such as Audubon, Landsdowne, and Catesby."
—Publishers Weekly


The Bedside Book of Birds "is an astoundingly beautiful book divided into nine habitats or sections that feature some of the most sublime writing to be found on the subject as well as more than 100 illustrations....The writings Gibson has chosen for each of his habitats are entertaining, informative, sometimes hilarious and often very sad...The very best writing in this collection, however, belongs to Graeme Gibson himself. His introductions to the sections of the book are breathtaking, in both the beauty of his writing and the ideas contained therein....The beauty of the writing and the illustrations contained in The Bedside Book of Birds is matched by the beauty of the book itself. Great pains have been taken by both the author and the publisher to make this book a work of art, and they have succeeded marvellously. Put it on your list for those who love birds, for those who appreciate fine writing and beautiful art, and for those who wish to accompany a noble mind on a journey into the heart of things."
—The Globe and Mail (Toronto)


"Many good bird books have been published in recent years, but this 20-year labor of love is different. Novelist and birdwatcher Gibson has assembled all manner of expression relating to birds: paintings, drawings, poems, essays, stories and scientific observations. Contributors are legion: ancient and modern, primitive and accomplished, famous and obscure....Gibson's preambles are as satisfying as the texts and accompanying illustrations."
—Library Journal