PreS-Gr. 2. This large, horizontally formatted title in the Backyard Bugs series conveys to young readers that in addition to being pretty to look at and fun to watch, butterflies help plants reproduce by spreading pollen from plant to plant. The simple text has an inviting cadence ("What are these colorful dancers? Butterflies!"), with broad ideas supplemented by more technical information provided in illustrated sidebars. Although Peterson's bold paintings will work well for sharing with groups, their stylized, cartoonish quality may make this book less appropriate for some curriculum needs than a book with more realistic or photographic illustrations. A concluding activity somewhat vaguely suggests that readers "look at a butterfly through a magnifying glass" without indicating whether the specimen should be alive or dead; other appended features include "Fun Facts," a craft project, a glossary, and a list of book and Web resources. Additional new releases introduce facts about spiders, earthworms, and dragonflies.
Karen HuttCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
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About the Author
Nancy Loewen has written more than 60 childrens books on a variety of Topics, including insects, money, natural disasters, character development, language, and more. Her books have received awards from the American Library Association, the New York Public Library, and Parents Choice. Four to the Pole! (Linnet Books, 2001), a young adult book co-written with polar explorer Ann Bancroft, was a Minnesota Book Award finalist. Nancy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband, two children, and a very demanding cat. Her children hope that the cat will allow them to get a dog someday.
