Beetles (Backyard Safari) - Softcover

Strain Trueit, Trudi

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1627120270 ISBN 13: 9781627120272

Publisher: Cavendish Square Publishing, 2013

Synopsis

This new set is designed for children who are just learning to read. Offers a simple introduction to some of natures most intriguing, creepy creatures.

About this title

From School Library Journal:

Gr 2-4-Lively texts invite readers to hunt down and observe familiar invertebrates in their own backyards. Each book begins by succinctly describing the featured animals' basic anatomy; major physical and behavioral characteristics; life cycles; diets, etc. Other chapters list appropriate clothing and gear for budding naturalists (mostly inexpensive, with the exception of a digital camera-color pencils are an alternative-and, in Dragonflies, binoculars); suggest where to find the creatures; and which characteristics to record. Also included is an identification guide, accompanied by labeled snapshots of about a dozen or more adults of representative species, and an outline of a few simple activities involving planting flowers or testing the invertebrates' response to such stimuli as different foods, water, barriers, etc. Sidebars scattered throughout offer miscellaneous facts or describe distinctive characteristics of each species. Clear, close-up color photos accompany the texts on about every other page, which includes a diagram of key body parts. Many books offer more detailed information on characteristics and life cycles, but the scope of Trueit's books is broader. Besides presenting basic information on the animals, they also introduce young readers to the scientific method-the careful collection and documentation of facts. The concept of going on an expedition, even if it is only in one's backyard, will appeal to children's imaginations. These lucid titles will also be valuable resources for teachers planning natural-history field trips.-Karey Wehner, formerly at San Francisco Public Libraryα(c) Copyright 2013. Library Journal. LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

From Booklist:

As the series title suggests, these new books in the Backyard Safari series offer a hands-on, practical point of view on discovering local insects, mollusks, and worms. The first part of each book offers information on the life cycle and anatomy of the title creature, so brief that it sometimes feels abbreviated. In Beetles, fascinating facts, such as those about how beetles lay their eggs in dung, could have used more fleshing out. That said, these limited descriptions do allow more space for three hands-on sections: “You Are the Explorer” offers practical instructions and tips for finding and observing the title creatures; “A Guide to . . .” provides characteristics and about a dozen pictures to help readers identify common North American varieties of each creature; and a final section suggests additional projects such as creating a garden to attract the creatures. Regardless of whether readers actually carry out the observations and experiments, these books offer an accessible, engaging introduction to these elements of science. Grades 3-6. --Miriam Aronin

About this edition

• Publisher: Cavendish Square Publishing
• Publication date: 2013
• ISBN 10: 1627120270
• ISBN 13: 9781627120272
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 32