Ladybug

School Library Journal

PreS-Gr 3-Both of these books have sturdy die-cut pages on the right-hand side that gradually become wider. Along the edges, the various stages in the animal's development are listed (e.g., in Ladybug, "The egg," "The egg hatches," "The larva," "Growing bigger," "Becoming a pupa," "A new ladybug," and "Life as an adult"). An illustration allows readers to flip easily to a particular topic. The clearly written texts cover habitat, food sources, hunting habits, and natural predators. Additional facts and labels for the various animals and vegetation found in that environment appear in smaller-sized text. The colorful, realistic illustrations have the clarity and focus of photographs; they depict numerous details and show the changing conditions in that particular environment. In each title, the glossary and index are creatively intertwined and a complete life-cycle guide is appended. These offerings have child appeal as well as solid information.-Sandra Welzenbach, Villarreal Elementary School, San Antonio, TX Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.