Secret Forests - Hardcover

Michael Gaffney

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1856021270 ISBN 13: 9781856021272

Publisher: Golden Books, 1994

About this title

From School Library Journal

Grade 3-5?A beautifully illustrated peek at the wide variety of invertebrates inhabiting the world's forests. Six mini habitats?among the canopy of leaves; within the tree bark; or on the floor of tropical, oak, and pine forests?are examined in four-page sections. Employing an "Eyewitness"-style format in the first half of each section, life-sized and larger-than-life color drawings of assorted arthropods appear against a white background. Captions describe one or two physical or behaviorial characteristics. The next spread shows the same creatures camouflaged within their habitat. These scenes are particularly effective; locating all of the animals is a real challenge. The realistic illustrations are outstanding. The text, however, is minimal. It does not clearly differentiate between insects and non-insects, but merely refers to them as "bugs" or "creepy crawlies." Also, data about the degree of magnification used in the drawings is not provided, and information is oversimplified. James Martin's Hiding Out (Crown, 1993) and Millicent Selsam's Backyard Insects (Scholastic, 1988) provide more detail on camouflage; Gaffney's title will be most useful for browsing.?Karey Wehner, San Francisco Public Library
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Publishers Weekly

Walkingsticks, pine beauty moths, stinkbugs, velvetworms and robber flies-they're all here, but hidden to the untrained observer. Gaffney takes it as his mission to educate the eye to perceive those refinements of nature that allow bugs and insects to imitate their surroundings in color, texture and form. Furtive as his subjects may be, his presentation is plain and direct: first he exhibits photo-like illustrations of insects that share a particular habitat (tropical forest, tropical forest floor, oak leaves, leaf litter, pine forest bark, or pine forest floor). Turn the page, and the next spread reveals a highly textured, beautifully rendered closeup illustration of the given habitat, with the same bugs and insects partially concealed and camouflaged. The "Creature Index" invites readers for quick peeks at individual bugs and insects or focused study of related species. Between the clever premise and deft execution, this bug book is the bee's knees. Ages 8-11.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Edition details

• Publisher: Golden Books
• Publication date: 1994
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1856021270
• ISBN 13: 9781856021272
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 32