Reviews

In an easy-to-read, humorous letter, stinkbug explains why stinkbugs stink, where they live, and that other animals reside in their community. Turning the page offers a vivid drawing of life in an open field, including a goldenrod plant. The next picture shows a close-up of the goldenrod flower. Illustrations are double-paged, and brightly colored. They are so clear and colorful that they invite children to look carefully for details about the bugs. The rhyming text tells of two boys wandering through an open field in late summer. As the boys look more closely in this cumulative tale, they see more creatures. Creatures added to the repetitive poem include a spider, butterfly, bee, ladybug, ambush bug, and tick. The book ends with a two-page glossary, complete with colored drawings telling additional facts about each of the creatures. A list of five organizations working to protect and preserve various ecosystems and animal habitats throughout North America is included. The light-hearted way that the story is told makes this an excellent read-aloud and fosters a desire for young children to learn more about insects. Recommended.

— Library Media Connection – Janet Luch, Adjunct Professor, SUNY New Paltz & Touro College (April/May 2007)

If you look closely at a goldenrod flower, you may see a whole community of creatures living together on a flower. With a blend of science and rhyming text, this light-hearted, yet educational picture book, gives us a closer look at tiny bug communities. Some characters in the communities are beauties, like the butterfly. Some are productive, like the honeybee. Some are just hungry, like the spider, or opportunistic, like the tick. Then there is the terrorist – the evil-looking ambush bug! As in our own world – we are all different, but share commonalities, so it is also a fact in the animal world. In the animal world, this is called an ecosystem.

The theme of this book is to show how a bug community works and functions effectively. This wonderful book includes colorful close-ups and field notes about the creatures, as well as a list of books and organization to find out more information.

— Parent Line – Carla Cosner (August 2007)

Join two adventurers as they explore the extensive critter community that can be found on a single flower!

Learn what lady bugs like to munch on, how the ambush bug waits for its prey and discover just how smelly a stink bug really is!

Detailed an realistic-looking illustrations, accompanied by an informative narrative full of satisfying-gross bug facts make this story perfect for the aspiring insect expert.

Anthony Fredericks introduces his readers to a number of different creatures that can be found in our gardens and backyards, and for the especially curious reader, he provides a field guide which gives detailed information about all of the critters mentioned in his book.

— Connecticut County Kids(May 2007)