SCIENCE
Rockwell, Lizzy

I Love Insects

(2) PS I Like to Read series. Two friends sitting outside on a summer's day have very different opinions about insects. The girl, armed with a magnifying glass and a field guide and gazing admiringly at a butterfly, ladybugs, ants, and a damselfly (among others), declares that she loves insects. The boy, having been chased away from his sandwich by houseflies, says he hates insects. As this simple and clever book unfolds, each child offers facts supporting their viewpoint. Some insects hurt plants, while others eat the insects that do so; some insects are "so ugly," others pretty; some make unpleasant sounds, others nice ones. At book's end, twilight has descended, the fireflies have come out, and...has the boy come around to his friend's point of view? The book's text is entirely composed of dialogue. But even though no quotation marks are used, because of the strength of each child's opinions, there is never any doubt who is speaking--except on the final, ambiguous spread. Vocabulary in this beginning-reader picture book is controlled but feels very natural. Illustrations in colored pencil, gouache, and watercolor capture the flora and fauna of a garden while keeping viewers connected to the human characters. A final double-page spread identifies each insect pictured in the book. Love it!

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