The Backyard Bird Chronicles is a #1 New York Times Bestseller. In addition to writing The Backyard Bird Chronicles, Amy Tan’s artwork illustrates her new book and shows a sense of discovery through her observations and drawings.

Some birders may be familiar with Amy Tan, the author of several best-selling novels including The Joy Luck Club, which was adapted into a very successful movie. Amy is a well-known novelist, and author of short story collections, children's books, and a memoir, but did you know that Amy Tan has a new book created from her interest in the birds that visit her yard and feeding station? It’s already a #1 New York Times Bestseller: The Backyard Bird Chronicles, which was not only written by Amy Tan, but it is beautifully illustrated by her too!

The Backyard Bird Chronicles has been described as “a gorgeous, witty account of birding, nature, and the beauty around us that hides in plain sight.” Tracking the natural beauty that surrounds us, The Backyard Bird Chronicles maps the passage of time through Amy’s daily entries, thoughtful questions, and beautiful original sketches. With charm and wit, author Amy Tan describes her foray into birding and the natural wonders of the world, and her original color sketches are featured throughout this unique new book – a #1 selling book in 2024!

During troubling times, Amy turned toward the natural world just beyond her window and, specifically, the birds visiting her yard. But what began as an attempt to find solace turned into something far greater: An opportunity to savor quiet moments, connect with nature in a meaningful way, and imagine the intricate lives of the birds she admires.

The forward is written by highly acclaimed bird artist, ornithologist, birder, and prolific author David Allen Sibley, who wrote: “The drawings and essays in this book do a lot more than just describe the birds. They carry a sense of discovery through observation and drawing, suggest the layers of patterns in the natural world, and emphasize a deep personal connection between the watcher and the watched. The birds that inhabit Amy Tan’s backyard seem a lot like the characters in her novels.”

Amy is a co-producer and co-screenwriter of the film version of The Joy Luck Club and she is a board member of the American Bird Conservancy. Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group published this book in full color and it has a preprinted case and flexibound body. You can learn more and see more illustrations at Knopf Doubleday

You can also download an audio book version of The Backyard Bird Chronicles from Random House, read by Amy Tam and Evan Sibley, which is 389 minutes long. You can learn more and listen to a sample from the audio book at The Backyard Bird Chronicles by Amy Tan: 9780593536131 | PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books and it is also available as an E-book at The Backyard Bird Chronicles by Amy Tan: 9780593536131 | PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books

Share your backyard birding experiences and photographs with The Birding Wire at editorstbw2@gmail.com