It's a Good Thing There Are Ladybugs

by Joanne Mattern

Overview

Ladybugs are actually a farmer's best friend-they eat the bugs that would otherwise harm plants.

Many people thing ladybugs are pretty. Some even think they bring good luck. The well-organized chapters help readers (Ages 6-7) identify key details. The illustrations and text features such as captions and bold print help students navigate the text while the photographs add clarity and enable students to better understand the text.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780531228302
Publisher:	Scholastic, Inc.
Publication date:	09/01/2014
Series:	Rookie Read-About Science
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	371,418
Product dimensions:	5.80(w) x 6.90(h) x 0.20(d)
Age Range:	5 - 8 Years

About the Author

Mattern is the author of many books for children. Her favorite topics include animals, biography, and history. She lives in the Hudson Valley of New York State.

Editorial Reviews

11/01/2014
K-Gr 2—These books open with a short list of "good things" that each animal contributes to the ecosystem opens these books. Bats, for example, eat insects and spread pollen and seeds. The content then shifts to more general information about physical features, life cycles, and habitats. Full-page photos of mostly high quality match the simple text effectively, aided by useful labels. Interesting details are judiciously woven into the broader overviews, some within the main text and others through "fun facts" insets. The titular "good things" return in a concluding spread, which restates the benefits, using effectively captioned photos. An additional "creature feature fun" section includes riddles, an activity suggestion, and more facts, along with photos. The theme of creatures helping the world may draw curious readers, while the solid presentation of information introduces each animal at a level that works for new readers.

School Library Journal