Insects

June 1, 2015

K-Gr 2-Arnold continues his distinctive and successful series with this newest title, a cohesive look at the world of insects (previous nonfiction titles have explored sharks, firefighters, and dinosaurs). Readers learn about where insects live, as well as their life cycle and physical characteristics. Kids will be fascinated by unusual details (a cockroach can live for days without a head). Scientific terms, such as metamorphosis, exoskeleton, and entomologists, are clearly defined. Appropriately, Arnold also tucks in information on flies, but the author is unclear about which insect is the fastest. He states that "the Southern giant darner dragonfly is the speediest insect. It can fly as fast as a car going 35 miles an hour!" However, a couple pages later, he writes, "A fly can zoom around at 45 miles per hour!" Arnold superimposes comical cartoon images of Fly Guy and his boy pal Buzz onto background artwork that alternates between lined journal pages and double-page outdoor nature photos; the resulting effect gives the pages a collagelike look. Kids will enjoy the amazing close ups, such as an image of an insect's stinger. VERDICT Teachers and series fans alike will be satisfied by this latest installment.-Lynn Vanca, Freelance Librarian, Akron, OH

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.