Synopsis
An engaging look at the ways that plants interact with people and animals.
Children's Literature
AGERANGE: Ages 3 to 7.
This attractive and colorful nonfiction text is one of three titles in a series of "First Step Lerner" books about ecology. This particular text describes and presents photographs about plants in their environments. Some of the interesting examples include green broad leaf plants that collect lots of sunlight and plants with roots that grow deep into the soil. The appealing, full-color photographs, simple patterned text, and bold captions all help support early readers in gaining an understanding of specific plants and how they adapt to their unique environments. This book introduces young readers to important vocabulary words such as adapt, nutrients, and pollen. Subject-specific words are highlighted in boldface type and included in a glossary at the back of the book. Also at the back of this small text are an index and two pages of several additional plant facts. For example, forests are shrinking because people are cutting down trees, yet we need forests because they help make the oxygen that people breathe. Very young children will enjoy reading and learning from this attractive nonfiction text, with or without adult assistance. Teachers will welcome this engaging, child-friendly book about plants because it will appeal to their students while supporting national curriculum standards related to the natural sciences and ecology. Reviewer: Susan Borges
Editorials
Children's Literature
AGERANGE: Ages 3 to 7.This attractive and colorful nonfiction text is one of three titles in a series of "First Step Lerner" books about ecology. This particular text describes and presents photographs about plants in their environments. Some of the interesting examples include green broad leaf plants that collect lots of sunlight and plants with roots that grow deep into the soil. The appealing, full-color photographs, simple patterned text, and bold captions all help support early readers in gaining an understanding of specific plants and how they adapt to their unique environments. This book introduces young readers to important vocabulary words such as adapt, nutrients, and pollen. Subject-specific words are highlighted in boldface type and included in a glossary at the back of the book. Also at the back of this small text are an index and two pages of several additional plant facts. For example, forests are shrinking because people are cutting down trees, yet we need forests because they help make the oxygen that people breathe. Very young children will enjoy reading and learning from this attractive nonfiction text, with or without adult assistance. Teachers will welcome this engaging, child-friendly book about plants because it will appeal to their students while supporting national curriculum standards related to the natural sciences and ecology. Reviewer: Susan Borges
School Library Journal
K-Gr 1- These brief texts attempt to address complex topics for early readers. With a single declarative sentence on most pages, the books show how animals, people, and plants make use of various aspects of the environment-water, land, rocks, etc. Unfortunately, the word "environment" is only defined in the glossary. Each page includes a well-chosen and composed photograph. The last two to four pages of each book present a current issue using more extensive paragraphs and smaller type. In the first book, Wisconsin's growing wolf population is addressed and an assortment of animal facts is listed. The second title describes ways people both help and hurt the environment. In the third, the problems caused by shrinking forests are discussed. Reducing such broad topics to less than 24 pages requires tough choices, and the resultant presentations are adequate but not engaging. The small size of these books limits them to single or small group use but the complexity of the topics begs for adult guidance.-Carol S. Surges, McKinley Elementary School, Wauwatosa, WI
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