This book is typical of any poarakeet guide book you would find in the library or at a pet store. It is full of hundreds of colored pictures, drawings, and good sound advice. My mom used it a lot when she had her budgies and used it as her "parakeet bible". It talks about everything, and even though it is a little older, the advice is very good, and up to todays standards. It covers their history, how to select a parakeet, Cages and Equipment, Maintenance, aviaries, feeding and nutrition, taming and training, teaching your bird how to talk, breeding, color varieties and color inheritance, anatomy and physiology, health care, safety, exhibiting, and show standards. This book reads easily to children 8 or above,trainers, and exhibiters.