Review by Booklist Review
*Starred Review* In the same (but never boring) vein as Nic Bishop Frogs (2008) and the Sibert Honor Book Nic Bishop Spiders (2007), this large-format book offers stunning color photos supported by an unusually engaging text. Beginning with the distinctions between butterflies and moths, Bishop goes on to discuss the insects' habits, habitats, life cycles, senses, and defenses against predators. The book's simple design showcases the excellent photos and the often-amazing bits of information that accompany them. A typical spread includes a full-page or double-page photo with a couple paragraphs of informative text as well as a caption that comments on the picture, identifies the species shown, and ends with the image's magnification (i.e., shown at 5 times actual size ). The many dramatic photos include one of a praying mantis devouring a moth, another of two swallowtail butterflies mating, and another of a rain forest caterpillar camouflaging itself as a poisonous snake by puffing up its front end and displaying normally hidden markings that imitate menacing reptilian eyes. Appended are a brief glossary and a two-page illustrated author's note in which Bishop shares some of his experiences, from the amusing to the dramatic, while photographing butterflies and moths. This excellent book provides an eye-opening introduction to a seemingly familiar subject.--Phelan, Carolyn Copyright 2009 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 2-5-Stunning close-up photos draw readers into the world of Lepidoptera. Sequences such as a caterpillar changing into a pupa or a four-page foldout of a butterfly in flight will dazzle viewers. Text pages feature a summarizing sentence in contrasting type that can be shared for read-alouds. (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
(Primary) If your child had a coffee table in her room, Bishop's books (Nic Bishop Spiders, rev. 3/08) would be good choices to put on it -- and then open and pore over. His latest effort fits the bill with spectacular photographs and informative but not-too-demanding text. Bishop puts his background in both biology and photography to good use here, covering life cycles, eating, defenses, mating, and the differences between butterflies and moths, all illustrated with intriguing, full-page photographs. A pull-out center-page spread contains a series of photographs showing five steps in a butterfly's flight process. One of the most interesting parts of the book is a story on the last two pages about Bishop's quest to photograph a Costa Rican caterpillar that camouflages as a snake. A glossary and an index are appended. From HORN BOOK, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
