Rolypolyology

School Library Journal

Gr 2-5These activity-oriented overviews try too hard to be all things for all people. They offer tips for collecting, housing, and caring for the animals; suggest some simple ways to develop observation skills; and outline over a half dozen related experiments that involve testing the invertebrates' responses to various stimuli. (The books state that there is no need to "...hurt or kill anything," but a couple of rolypolies die as a result of being immersed in water.) The creatures' physical characteristics, life cycles, and behavior are briefly described. Attractive full-color photographs and labeled diagrams of body parts are included. However, the frequent facetious comments, use of slang, bits of anthropomorphism, fictionalization, and the cartoons detract from the generally scientific approach. Also, the observation activities, which emphasize pretending and play, will appeal most to primary-grade children, while the vocabulary and content of the rest of the material seem geared toward middle and upper-grade audiences. Molly McLaughlin's Earthworms, Dirt and Rotten Leaves (Atheneum, 1986) is more thorough and presents a greater number of experiments. Information on rolypolies (also called pillbugs, wood lice, etc.) is available in many other books.Karey Wehner, San Francisco Public Library