Review by Booklist Review
This colorful book describes what happens in winter to seven different insects: a praying mantis, a field cricket, a ladybug, a honeybee, a pavement ant, a monarch butterfly, and an Arctic woolly bear caterpillar. The book opens in a garden in late September, shifts to a riverbank, and then shows a snowy northern landscape. Next, seven double-page spreads present the stories of the insects as they prepare for winter. Finally, a spread shows the homes of the species in winter, while the next shows them emerging in spring. The title concludes with an author's note and two science activities related to freezing water. A typical double-page spread includes a few paragraphs of text accompanied by large-scale illustrations. Though a simpler, more straightforward presentation of information might have been more appropriate for such a short book, the narratives do show the widely varying ways insects ensure that they will survive cold weather.--Phelan, Carolyn Copyright 2010 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 3-5-Hansen explains winter survival strategies of six insects. Among those featured, the most amazing is the Arctic wooly bear caterpillar that freezes solid then thaws in spring. Suggested experiments can lead to discoveries about what happens when water freezes. (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
Hansen introduces seven insects and their winter survival techniques. > From the monarch butterfly's flight-by-stages to Mexico to the woolly bear caterpillar's frozen body beneath the snow, each featured insect's habits are explained clearly. Detailed acrylic illustrations reveal insect habitats. Two simple experiments are included. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Cold winter weather challenges animals. Using examples from eight speciespraying mantis, field cricket, dragonfly, ladybug, honeybee, pavement ant, monarch butterfly, arctic woolly bearHansen explains different strategies insects use to survive. Some hide, others lay eggs; a few migrate and some can even freeze. Wildlife painter Kray's glorious double-page acrylic illustrations show the animals in context, including minute detail. Readers can see the tiny projections on the legs of field crickets, spines on the backs of ants and each hair where the insect has fuzz, even on honeybee legs. In an appealing conversational tone, the author includes information about life cycles, preferred habitats and living arrangements. She presents each insect as an individual, not quite personified but occasionally with improbable intention in their behavior. "Pavement ant can't imagine life without other ants." As her note suggests, what animals do in winter is a common childhood question. This is the first title for young readers in 25 years to offer an answer. Two easy ice experiments add a hands-on dimension. A splendid addition to the science shelf. (additional reading, glossary, index) (Nonfiction. 5-9) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
