Leaf Litter Critters

February 5, 2018
“Between soil’s grains of weathered rock,/ Beneath its veiny leaves in scraps,/ Amid its ribs of rotting sticks,/ Soil’s litter critters find the gaps,” begins Bulion’s 19-poem exploration of tiny and sometimes microscopic creatures that rarely find themselves the subject of a poem. Among them are comma-size proturans (“We eat debris/ from forest floors,/ like rotting plants/ and fungus spores”) and eyelash-length symphylans, fast-moving, omnivorous mini-centipedes that devour everything from “tender rootlets” to “newish dead of any breed,/ Since I’m no fusspot when I feed.” Bulion stuffs her poems with scientific detail and puts even more into accompanying “science notes.” Meganck’s cartoons strike sillier notes (a rat races away from a millipede’s stench), balancing all of the information Bulion provides with hefty doses of fun. Ages 8–12. Illustrator’s agent: Abigail Samoun, Red Fox Literary.

April 1, 2018

Gr 3-6-Educational and highly entertaining, this collection of scientific poems about creepy crawlers and microscopic organisms is sure to please kids who are equally at home in the lab and in the dirt. Each poem delves into a different resident of leaf litter ecosystems, from mites to the "garden centipede" and fungi, and is accompanied by a "Science Note" paragraph that goes into greater detail about the topic. The verse is light but packed with information: "When leafy litter's parched bone dry, /Most water critters flee or die, /But water bear stays on location/In suspended animation." This compendium is rich with cross-curricular teaching opportunities. Meganck's humorous, digitally rendered cartoon artwork will have readers giggling as they learn. Though the creatures are very expressive, Meganck maintains a nice level of scientific accuracy. In addition to the already substantial back matter, there is also a "Litter Critter Investigations" segment that guides readers through finding and sampling the very subjects included in the book. VERDICT An excellent find for science fans and teachers alike.-Elizabeth Speer, Weatherford College, TX

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from February 1, 2018
From bacteria to beetles, countless organisms survive and thrive at the junction of soil and the decaying matter lying on its surface.Bulion, who celebrated ocean critters in At the Seashore Cafe (2011), turns landward to look at those who inhabit the leaf-litter layer called duff. In 19 poems she introduces decomposers and aerators such as fungi, tardigrades, springtails, and even earthworms. Many of these creatures are microscopic or near-microscopic; most will be unfamiliar. But each poem is accompanied by a clear description of the creature and its ecosystem role. Set in a smaller font, this exposition will be challenging but helpful to her readers. The poems are expertly crafted in a variety of forms (identified in the backmatter). The language is lively and the imagery appropriate. With alliteration, internal rhymes, and careful rhythm, these will be a delight to read aloud and learn. The culminating "A Few Favorite Brown Food Web Kings," if sung to the tune of Rodgers and Hammerstein's "My Favorite Things," is both irresistible and a solid learning aid, grouping these once-unfamiliar creatures by their jobs in the leaf litter. Meganck's engaging digital drawings give each creature pop-eyes and attitude. He concludes with a comparison image showing their sizes relative to a straight pin. The backmatter also includes instructions for litter-critter investigations and further resources.A delightful, memorable introduction to an unsung ecosystem. (Informational poetry. 7-12)

COPYRIGHT(2018) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

March 15, 2018
Grades 4-7 Microscopic bacteria and fungi living in the leaf litter layer, also called the duff, are the brown food web's key decomposers, responsible for turning dead organic matter into nutrients for plants. In this ecological poetry collection, Bulion works her own magic, turning potentially dull life science into zany fun. The rhyming introductory poem doesn't skip a beat: Tunneling, chewing / Humus-pooing, / Decomposers help plants grow. In 18 more poems, including free verse, sonnet, tanka, and clerihew, a variety of decomposers, from amoebas and tardigrades to pseudoscorpions and earthworms, are introduced. The final poem, which can be sung to the tune of The Sound of Music's My Favorite Things, impressively incorporates all of the featured decomposers. In addition to cartoonlike illustrations, Science Notes accompany each poem, providing more information on how each decomposer does its job. Substantial back matter includes a glossary, notes on the poetry formats, hands-on activities, and a size comparison graphic that uses a pin to show relative sizes of the decomposers. An amusing way to get the dirt on food chains.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)