Milkweed for monarchs

PreS-Gr 3--While many books about monarchs focus on their great migration, this one stresses the importance of the milkweed plant to the butterflies' survival, while also presenting a detailed description of their life cycle. The text on each page is in two parts: the top lines are written in simple rhymes, while the bottom lines explain the science in greater detail, making the book accessible to a wide range of readers. Detailed illustrations accompany the text, the best of which depict close-up views of a single egg, various stages of caterpillar growth, and the dreamy blue-green of the chrysalis. Though the larger issues, e.g., how pesticide use and deforestation affect the butterflies' food source, may be lost on younger readers--addressed on the second spread of the book--the vivid illustrations and expressive words make the book a worthwhile purchase. Back matter includes an author's note, fun facts, ways readers can help (by planting milkweed in their garden, for example) and a brief bibliography. VERDICT A strong addition to a library's collection of butterfly books, especially in areas where monarch migration takes place.--Sue Morgan

Migrating monarch butterflies must have milkweed. This colorful title presents the development of monarch butterflies, from egg to caterpillar to chrysalis to flight and migration. Van Zandt uses a dual text--lyrical quatrains supplemented by exposition in a smaller typeface--set on bright, animation-style illustrations. A female monarch returns from a southern winter to seek out a place to lay her eggs. The author emphasizes the butterfly's need for milkweed to provide for the next generation. What stands out are the in-depth, step-by-step descriptions and illustrations of the stages of the monarch's development. Notably, Van Zandt mentions the ways milkweed defends itself against monarch caterpillars. Beginning with a panorama of monarchs leaving, presumably, Mexico or California, Barajas then uses close-up angles to show details of the egg laying and hatching, the changing caterpillar and chrysalis colors, and a newly hatched butterfly's crumpled wings, ending with a smaller group of monarchs flying away. Early on, Van Zandt makes clear that monarch migration extends over four generations. She ends with a note describing her own developing interest in monarchs, the threats they face (including habitat loss, which makes finding milkweed more challenging), ways young readers can help, and fun facts about butterfly senses. This is familiar ground in picture books as well as early science education, but it's an engaging introduction nonetheless. Informative in both pictures and words. (bibliography) (Informational picture book. 4-8.) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.