Looking Closely Inside the Garden

Look closely. Look very closely. Is it—a stained-glass window? A jigsaw puzzle? Give up? Just turn the page and, lo and behold, it's a monarch butterfly. See what looks like a pair of chopsticks revealed as a mormon cricket, a sponge as a strawberry, and many more surprises when you look closely into the garden. The Looking Closely series takes children on a journey of discovery through four environments — the forest, the shore, the desert and the garden. Frank Serafini's camera lens enlarges each world through the magic of close-up photography. Young eyes will rediscover our planet as a place of beauty, mystery and delight. Readers are first challenged to guess the identity of each closeup photograph. The next page reveals the entire photograph of the plant, animal or natural object accompanied by a simple but detailed description of the habitat. By inspiring children to ask questions and use their imaginations, these books help build problem-solving skills. They also encourage curiosity about environments that, examined this closely, are full of unexpected wonders.

This book in the Looking Closely series will take children on a journey of discovery inside the garden while inspiring them to ask questions and use their imaginations.

Children's Literature

Open this book and you will be greeted with a colorful circle of photography that pops against a stark, black background. In that circle are planes of golden yellows and fiery oranges, outlined by thick black lines. Is it a stained glass window? Or perhaps a piece of a puzzle? Look closely, then turn the page and discover that what you see is the wing of a monarch butterfly! In Serafini's "Looking Closely" series, he cleverly uses close-up photography and playful text to help young children slow down and look carefully at the nature all around them. Inside the Garden explores everything from the petals of the princess flower to the ridges of a pumpkin. Earthworms, snails, crickets, ears of corn, spider webs and the seeds of a strawberry also receive close examination. Readers will quickly catch on to the rhythm of the book—look closely, make a guess, turn the page and discover the bigger picture. Explanatory text teaches more about each visual puzzle, explaining how flowers are pollinated, what a spider web is for and why earthworms are good for the soil. Almost hidden in the publication information is a note from the author-photographer explaining his hopes to help children appreciate the beauty of the natural world. This is an excellent overview of basic scientific concepts that can be taught in the backyard, as well as an introduction to using photography to see in a new way. Reviewer: Leah Hanson

Frank Serafini is an educator and avid nature photographer whose work has taken him from Fiji to Mexico, from Canada to Australia. Previously a primary schoolteacher, Frank is now Associate Professor of Children's Literature and Literacy Education at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

Frank Serafini is an educator and avid nature photographer whose work has taken him from Fiji to Mexico, from Canada to Australia. Previously a primary schoolteacher, Frank is now Associate Professor of Children's Literature and Literacy Education at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.