Butterflies

Children's Literature

There is nothing like having a little beauty flutter into our lives along with some learning! Here is how it goes—we learn what butterflies are (insects), what they look like (about the size of a child's fist with four wings and two antennas), and what they do (drink nectar, transfer flower pollen). Minimal easy text on one page faces a large bright butterfly picture on the second page of the two-page spreads. Some butterflies in these full-color photos are bigger than my fist. So, with these pictures, you can clearly see the straw-like mouth, hair on their legs, their feet (used to taste things), and their smelling, feeling antennas. Keeping to a very simple presentation, this book does not tackle the caterpillar and chrysalis stages. A note in the book reads: "The 'Bugs, Bugs, Bugs! set supports national science standards related to the diversity of life and heredity." Twenty-four pages include 94 words, a table of contents, a glossary, book and internet references, and an index. Other titles in the "Bugs, Bugs, Bugs!" series include Bumble Bees, Moths, Praying Mantises, Spiders, and Walkingsticks. 2005, Capstone Press/Pebble Plus, Ages 5 to 7.
—Chris Gill