In the recent cold snap, I’ve seen flocks of birds industriously pecking through the undergrowth in our garden. This flutter of activity seemed to be perfectly timed for the books I took a look at this week — two stories for children about how bird communities operate.

“Crick, Crack, Crow!” was written and illustrated by two sisters, Janet Lord and Julie Paschkis.

Lord came up with a lively text about an inquisitive young crow and his family. She uses a rhyming line to preface each of Crow’s adventures and misadventures.

“Crick, Crack, Crow! Ready to go!” — and Crow flaps away to the clothesline at a nearby farmhouse to pluck a button off of a shirt hanging from the line.

This week’s books

This week’s books

“Crick, Crack, Crow!” written by Janet Lord and illustrated by Julie Paschkis

Peachtree — 32 pp — $18.99

“The Egg Song” by Joy Decius

Gotham Books — 48 pp — $16.99

“Crick, Crack, Whoa! Slippery as snow!” — and Crow finds himself sliding down the barn’s steep roof.

Crow’s insatiable curiosity sometimes gets him into dicey situations. But as the author demonstrates, Crow employs his wits to stay safe and knows when to call for help when the trouble is too big to handle on his own. When a hawk swoops by, for instance, a raucous mob of crows flies in to chase it off.

Prolific Seattle illustrator Julie Paschkis devises elaborate forests and flowers for the background of these illustrations, but the crows are mostly rendered as expressive black silhouettes — perched on branches, in flight, and often with beaks open as they voice their abundant opinions!

After a day of exploits, it is “Crick, crack, rest. Home in the nest” for young Crow and his flock.

But one more page of backmatter, “Crick, Crack, Crow! So much to know!” offers additional fascinating facts about this intelligent and playful bird species.

While we’re on the topic of birds and their flocks, there’s a new edition out of “The Egg Song,” written by Warrenton author Joy Decius.

Upfront, this middle-grade reader credits the founders of CITY (Chickens in the Yard), which advocated determinedly in Salem for the legal right to keep backyard hens and helped to “hatch” a movement that has encouraged many more communities to allow urban chicken coops.

“The Egg Song” is narrated by Gertie, the “number-three hen” in a flock of three. Gertie introduces us to the number-one hen, Aretha, and to Maizie, who is number two, before quickly explaining what pecking order means. The status of each chicken represents certain responsibilities and privileges.

As number-three, Gertie matter-of-factly informs readers that she doesn’t always get to eat when she wants to or perch wherever she pleases – Aretha decides those things.

But as the official “announcer” of the flock, Gertie does have to learn more than two dozen sounds to communicate to her sisters.

As this book’s narrator, she enthusiastically informs readers about the daily activities of their flock, and about what chickens enjoy and what they fear.

“The Egg Song” is an educational and thoroughly amiable story of chicken flock interactions.