Bold colors and lively rhyming text combine to make this eye-catching picture book a bug lover's delight. The text's simplicity will keep little ones engaged - "Butterflies that flutter in the sky/Spotted ladybugs that go creeping by" - and the Bug-O-Meter (a chart that answers questions such as "Can it fly" and "Where does it live?") is a device that older children will really enjoy. The vivid colors and bold shapes in Barner's collage illustrations will show well in a story-time setting. (Reading Level: Grade K-2)
In the sea, life is as prevalent as it is on land. Learn about the fish, plants, mammals and insects that make up this carefully balanced environment. Find out more about the three major life zones and the groups of living things that inhabit them.
Grasslands are areas with lots of grasses, low rainfall and very few trees. Find out how brush fires and seasonal drought help maintain a perfect home for a variety of organisms by keeping the grass at a low level. Learn about prairies, savannas and steppes and how each is unique in their support of animal life.
Covered with sand and a low water supply, the desert still supports cactus and other life forms. In all this desolation, it is amazing how anything can exist in these conditions but even humans have adapted to life in the deserts of the world. Learn more about how the desert has sustained these life forms with rich soil and unique water storage methods. Also find out about the many different types of deserts and how they vary from other biomes.
Deciduous forests change with the seasons as they are made up of trees that shed their leaves every fall. With strong oaks, birch and other trees - deciduous forests are home to deer, bears and squirrels. The decaying leaves enrich the soil providing new life for the spring and summer months. Most of these colourful, woodland areas are found in Europe, China and eastern North America.
