The Book of Tiny Creatures

December 15, 2020
Detailed, colorful watercolor art accompanies pages of information about the smallest members of these groups: mollusks, annelids, and arthropods. A pleasingly designed table of contents lists titles and subheadings for five chapters, plus these backmatter pages: "The insect orchestra," "Answers to questions," and "Index of tiny creatures." Each chapter begins with a selection of facts about its specific topic, then presents ways for young naturalists to further explore tiny creatures. The text is graceful, and vocabulary and systems including metamorphosis, larvae, molt, elytra (elsewhere, confusingly, called elytrons), parthenogenesis, hemolymph, and stridulate are clearly explained. However, such words as articulated, undulate, and inseminated will not necessarily be understood in context. Oddly, occasional quizzes pop up, with terse answers at the book's end--and no explanations in the text. The same two children grace each chapter, one Asian-presenting and one White-presenting, both with sweetly flushed cheeks. Emphasis is on European flora and fauna, but there is plenty of crossover into North America. Entomologists are still trying to learn whether painted ladies and monarchs make their mythic, long migrations as individuals or in generations, but the text reports only the more dramatic idea of one butterfly traveling thousands of miles to and from its hatching grounds. Gentle humor and deep respect for tiny creatures--plus, inexplicably, lobsters--comes through in a book well suited for browsing. Effectively demonstrates that small can be fascinating. (Nonfiction. 7-9)

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January 1, 2021
Grades 2-4 *Starred Review* The smallest creatures children can commonly see--mollusks (such as snails), annelids (worms), and arthropods (insects, spiders, and scorpions), are covered by environmental journalist Tordjman (The Living Pond) in entrancing detail in this English translation of a French import. After introducing the creatures and discussing basics (e.g., body structure and reproduction) sections in this lovely biology primer cover their lives in the sky, on the ground, and in water, and a closing section offers extras including the shiver-inducing "Guests in our Homes" and record-holding creatures (the North Sea's Bootlace Worm is 100 feet long!). Tordjman informs children about how ants recognize each other, what kind of insect can fly backwards, how a bee's tasks change as it gets older, and many other tidbits that will keep the pages turning. Frequent double-page spreads look at related topics, such as anthills and beehives, and display grouped creatures, such as the insects you might see in a meadow; there are also quizzes and seek-and-find activities. On every page, numerous little creatures and features of their lives and habitats are beautifully illustrated with a notably high level of accuracy by Norwood and Tchoukriel (illustrators of French nature books). While some advanced technical vocabulary (hemolymph, tracheae, elytrons) will likely require adult help, the breadth of the topics covered and engaging visual layout make this commendable. A gorgeous choice for school and public libraries.

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January 29, 2021

K-Gr 4-This title will appeal to readers who want to know more about the creepy crawlies and beautiful butterflies of the world. Readers are asked questions such as, "Who are the tiny creatures?" and "Who uses four wings to fly?" The text covers a range of flying, crawling, and creeping critters, and focuses on three core groups: mollusks, annelids, and arthropods. "Little Workshop" sections are included, which provide hands-on activities designed to help youngsters engage with tiny creatures by safely catching them and building terrariums and garden shelters. Overall, the elegant design echoes the illustrations of 19th-century naturalists, but the text sometimes overtakes the images. Although the changes in typeface help differentiate headings from content, the cursive script is small and sometimes challenging to read. A great deal of information is shared throughout, resulting in some pages that are a bit more crowded than others. Ultimately, the book is delicately designed, elegantly constructed, and will appeal to readers for its eye-catching aesthetics and informational content. VERDICT Purchase for nonfiction nature collections; a lovely addition to the shelves of budding naturalists.-Jen McConnel, Longwood Univ., Virginia

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