Published by Crown Books for Young Readers

Summary:  From egg to caterpillar to pupa (called a cocoon for moths and a chrysalis for butterflies), butterflies and moths have similar life cycles.  Readers will learn the intriguing answer to the title question, as well as answers to many other questions about butterflies and moths.  Detailed illustrations portray a wide range of caterpillars, butterflies, and moths with labels to identify each one.  In addition to the life cycle, there is plenty of fascinating information about anatomy, food, defenses, and more.  Includes a page of sources and resources.  48 pages; grades K-3.

Pros:  I missed last year’s What’s Inside a Flower? and am delighted that I discovered this beautiful and informative science book.  The illustrations are unique and detailed, containing at least as much information as the text.  Just as I was wishing I knew the differences between butterflies and moths, I turned the page to discover a detailed comparison suitable for framing and hanging in the science corner.

Cons:  This book seemed a little long for the intended audience.  With so much information, you might want to break it up into several sections and read one at a time.

Published by Barefoot Books

Summary:  The text follows a variety of birds, starting with hatchlings emerging from eggs, and continuing as those babies learn to fly.  By the time autumn comes, they are strong enough flyers to join the flyway of birds migrating to warmer places.  Flying in groups of all sizes, they head south, stopping for a week or two to rest until the cold catches up and sends them on their way.  When they reach the ocean, they settle in and wait until spring arrives to call them back north again.  Includes additional information about bird migration, including ways to help migratory birds; a map of the four North American flyways; thumbnail portraits and additional information about the twelve birds in the book; and sources of additional information.  32 pages; grades K-4.

Pros:  A great introduction to bird migration, with poetic text and lots of interesting pictures of a variety of birds.  The back matter makes it a good resource to begin further research.

Cons:  The only birds covered were water birds.

Published by Barefoot Books

Summary:  “This is the story of my grandfather: how he got stranded on a volcanic island, was almost turned into barbecue and found the most important moment in the world.”  The island is Surtsey, formed in the 1960’s by underwater volcanic explosions off the coast of Iceland, where Ævar’s grandfather (also named Ævar) was from.  Ævar Senior was an explorer, a scientist, and a photographer, so when he heard about Surtsey, he wanted to go check it out.  A fisherman dropped him and a friend off, and the two scientists enjoyed a day of exploring.  Unfortunately, the fisherman never returned, and they spent two days trying to keep warm (the molten lava helped) and surviving on the small amount of food and drink they had with them.  On the third day, an American man, part of a U.S. scientific expedition, found them (at the most important moment in the world).  They made it back to Iceland and lived happily ever after, although they never found out why the fisherman didn’t pick them up.  Includes additional information about Iceland, Surtsey, volcanoes, a few Norse gods, and the legend of Surtsey’s tomatoes, which involves poop.  32 pages; grades 2-5.

Pros:  This quirky book is a total delight, both the folksy story and the illustrations that perfectly capture the magic and colors of Iceland.  The author states on the title page that everything in the story is true, except for one little thing, and invites readers to see if they can spot it.  That made me want to read carefully, which we can hope will be the result for kids as well.  

Cons:  The detail that is not true turns out to be quite the anticlimax, although Benediktsson has fun pointing out the outlandish parts that are true throughout the story.

Published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Summary:  The story of a small piece of land began five hundred million years ago, when it was part of the ocean.  Dinosaurs walked on it sixty-seven million years ago, and ice covered it one hundred thousand years ago.  There have been many, many changes, and different forms of life have come and gone.  But the land has always survived…until humans came along.  Starting with a single house, people gradually built more and more on the land, even digging into it to create structures to support them.  The impacts grew and grew until one day “…it seemed unstoppable,” shown with an upside down black and gray illustration.  Kids start to make changes, reclaiming the land with clean-up efforts, flowers, and trees.  Even a small gift to the Earth can reap big rewards.  Includes an author’s note, a list of words that inspired the book, animals and plants in the book, a list of epochs represented, and additional resources.  48 pages; grades K-3.

Pros:  A gorgeous introduction to environmental concerns, covering a surprising amount of information with deceptively simple text and illustrations that reminded me a little bit of Virginia Lee Burton (and should be considered for a Caldecott!).  The last few pages and back matter will empower kids to figure out what they can do to help the planet.

Cons:  My usual discouragement and angst when I read books about the environment.