Monster Bug

June 1, 2004
Gr 1-2-Two desirable choices for early independent reading and for group science lessons. Picky Peggy introduces a fussy eater who is equally inattentive to her own nutritional needs and to those of her new pet duckling. When Fluff fails to thrive on a steady diet of bread crumbs, Peggy switches him to a vitamin-rich regimen and improves her own eating habits as well. Careful observation enables the girl to draw her conclusions. In the second title, two cousins frighten their younger siblings by showing them a monster bug on the basement wall. Kyle and Jenna are unaware that the insect is actually a shadow. The next day, all of the youngsters visit the beach and Kyle notices that the length of shadows on the sand is altered throughout the day by the proximity of the sun. That evening, he and Jenna apply their new knowledge and surprise the big kids with an especially scary silhouette. Both stories are enhanced by colorful artwork, supplemented by numerous text boxes with additional information, and end with a "Think Like a Scientist" section that emphasizes the use of visual clues to make inferences. These offerings confirm that fiction is a good vehicle for conveying science concepts to children.-Gloria Koster, West School, New Canaan, CT

Copyright 2004 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.