April 1, 2017
K-Gr 3-Well-designed introductions to animal development that pair simple text with clear photographs. The sequences showing embryo development in Chicken and Turtle are particularly effective. Close-up photos sometimes span an entire spread and will hold the attention of listeners, who can view and discuss the information in small read-aloud groups. Butterfly is marred by a confusing statement about migration that suggests a single monarch travels north in summer and south in winter, oversimplifying the complex cycle. A picture glossary also includes pronunciation. VERDICT Despite the misstep noted above, most volumes are first-rate picks.
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January 1, 2018
These substantive texts explain, step-by-step, how the titular insects develop from the time of fertilization (primarily from the time they hatch) to adulthood. �cf2]Butterfly�cf1] is the standard metamorphosis-focused fare; �cf2]Dragonfly�cf1] has more unusual facts, especially concerning mating rituals. Both are clear and accessible, with illuminating close-up photographs, labeled images, and defined terms. Additional facts about each insect are appended. Reading list. Glos., ind.
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