Minibeasts in the Soil

Children's Literature - Carrie Hane Hung

Look carefully in the soil to discover the arthropods and other invertebrates that call it their home. Readers will be guided to learn about the earthworm and follow the directions for the activity to observe the worms. They can read about the other creatures like the millipede and beetles that reside in the soil. There are several captioned, color photographs throughout the book. For those students who like to observe the animals in their settings, there is an illustrated guide to identify twenty different mini-beasts. The chapters are subdivided into short sections, boldface print words are found in the glossary, and insets provide additional information and tips. Some of the photographs have scaled measurements of the animals. This book is one of six in the "Where to Find Minibeasts" series that explores arthropods and some invertebrates in their habitats. In some cases, some of the animals appear in more than one series books; the index in each book provides a quick view to check for additional information. There is no content consultant listed for the series. Reviewer: Carrie Hane Hung

School Library Journal

Gr 3-5–In this series, a minibeast is defined as an invertebrate—usually an insect, but not always. Approximately 20 animals are described in each title, with information on life cycles, diet, habitats, and survival. The description of each animal includes a depiction of its true size, since the colorful, interestingly captioned photos often show the minibeasts greatly magnified. Sidebars offer interesting facts about each one, and the books also describe activities that can be done in each type of habitat that will encourage young scientists’ observational skills. A closing identification guide gives information, in the form of a chart, about the animals profiled in the book and other invertebrates that may be found in the same habitat. There is some repetition found across some of the books, particularly in Compost Heap, Soil, and Stone. All three of these titles include information on slugs, snails, and centipedes. However, this series will work both for assignments and for budding invertebrate zoologists.