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Crickwing, by Janell Cannon (Voyager volume of non-fictional insect
Books, 2000), is an excellently told children’s information. With comical
story, using insects as fictional characters. The illustrations, rampant puns,
book combines a small amount of factual mate- and selective descriptions
rial amidst the fantastic portrayal of human-like of the more bizarre aspects
insects who talk, play jokes on each other, and of insect life, this book will
engage in warfare. The story incorporates social capture the attention of
themes as well. Crickwing, a cockroach with older students, ages eight to
a bent wing, behaves badly toward some ants, twelve. While the informa-
and is captured to be offered as their sacrifice to tion is accurate, the way it is
a warring colony. Readers can follow Crickwing portrayed could help in per-
in his social development, and perhaps reflect petuating misconceptions or
on their own behavior through the vehicle of anthropomorphizing insects.
this story. In the end, it is the compassion of This is the kind of insect
the ants and Crickwing’s unique artistic abilities book that, made available for
that lead him out of a precarious situation. This independent book time, could
is a great story for six- to ten-year-olds. keep students immersed in
the topic of insects, although
it could encourage confusion for some students
trying to separate fantasy and fact.
On One Flower, by Anthony D. Fredericks
(Dawn Publications, 2006), is a rhyming story,
in the manner of “The House that Jack Built.”
Two boys walk through a field and observe many
creatures on a single stalk of goldenrod: stink-
bug, spider, ladybug, butterfly, honeybee, tick.
In the back of the book are field notes to explain
more of the natural history of each organism, as
well as a letter to readers explaining about ecol-
ogy. A few resources are listed. Colorful illustra-
tions by Jennifer DiRubbio accompany the text.
This book can be inspiring for other writing
projects to integrate science and language arts.
Honey in a Hive, by Anne Rockwell (Har-
Chirping Crickets, by Melvin Berger (Harp- perCollins, 2005), is a non-fiction book with
erCollins, 1998), is another title in the “Let’s illustrations by S. D. Schindler. The life cycle
Read and Find Out” series. This non-fiction of the hive, history of domesticating bees, bee
book is best for ages five to nine. It describes behavior, and individual life cycles are dis-
in simple detail how a cricket makes noise with cussed. The pictures are beautiful as well as
its wings and hears with its ears. Life cycle; detailed. Simple language conveys interesting
anatomy; different kinds of crickets; and how material in an easy-to-understand text. This is
to catch, make a temporary habitat for, and a good read aloud for children in first through
release crickets are also discussed. A few ideas fourth grade. Older students can read indepen-
for cricket activities (make a model, jump like a dently to gather research for reports or projects.
cricket) are included in the back of the book. Facts about bees and honey are listed at the
back of the book. This is one book in the “Let’s
Young Naturalist’s Handbook Insect-Lo- Read and Find Out” series, in which text and
Pedia, by Matthew Reinhart (Hyperion Books for illustrations are checked for accuracy by an
Children, 2003), is a more playful approach to a expert in the relevant field.
© synergy learning • 800-769-6199 • March/april 2010 Connect • page 2
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