I'm always on the look-out for books that do double-duty. You know, cool practice readers that also educate. "Snowshoe Thompson" falls into this category, and so does MONSTER BUGS.
Here's a sample of what you will find:
(This sentence breaks follow what is in the book.)
The heaviest bug
is the goliath beetle of Africa.
How heavy is it?
Get two eggs
out of the fridge.
Hold them together
in your hand.
That's how heavy
one goliath beetle is.
As you can see the text is very kid-friendly. The author knows to give concrete examples – two eggs – that children can relate to, and the artist knows to show the bugs UP CLOSE.
The critters that the book discusses are: the goliath beetle, giant stag beetle, bombardier beetle, giant waterbug, stinkbug, walking sticks, pray mantises, army ants, ant lion, black widow, raft spider, tarantula, tarantula hawk, killer bees, assassin bugs, horseflies, atlas moth, sphinx moth, Madagascar hissing roach, and millipedes. Plenty of variation and plenty of information as children are exposed to various forms of bug 'attack' and bug 'defense'. There is everything from camouflage to boiling hot gases extruded from thoraxes.
For a STEP INTO READING book this one is fairly long at approximately 46 pages. I wouldn't expect most children to read it from beginning to end in one sitting, but they will certainly look at the drawings, and eventually get through the text as they try to figure out who does what.
This is a Very Good Non-Fiction book for elementary aged children. Written with First thru Third graders in mind, "Monster Bugs" delivers interesting text and great drawings that make kids WANT to read. The only consideration in purchasing this one is the grossness factor; it might not be right ever child if they are sensitive to one critter killing and eating another.
Pam~
MONSTER BUGS!
(Step-Into-Reading, Step 3)
by Lucille Recht Penner
Pamela Johnson (Illustrator)
Word Count: 961
Page Count: 48
Accelerated Reader: 3.2 / points: 0.5
AR quiz: 14634
Lexile: 640L
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