Book Description

This colorful, pocket-size field guide brings youngsters face-to-face with all kinds of amazing insects. The concise, easy-to-read text provides lots of fun facts to share with friends and just enough detail to make identification of winged, camouflaged, and other specimens easy for budding naturalists. An introduction shows children how to use the book, while the glossary and index add to the reference value.

Reviews (1)

Wow! such great photographs and easy to read, too
These field guides for the younger scientist are great. the pictures are so vivid and close up. The insects are larger than life and the details are clear and easy to see. The text is written in an easy to read style with words a child can easily understand. My children, ages 7, 6, and 4, and I love to sit with these and discuss the pictures and text. I would recommend these for any young adventurer. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

If you love something let it go !
This is a great story that has been adapted from the Television series by Katharine Holabird. The story shows how Angelina the mouse finds a lovely pink butterfly that has hurt it leg. The story show how Angelina wants to keep the butterfly as a pet after its leg it healed, but begins to have second thoughts.
Colorful pictures on every page of this book help keep the readers attention, while the story really shows kids that maybe a trapped animal is really better if it is set free. This book shows a good moral lesson for readers of any age.
by Jordan Miller ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A superbly crafted and presented book for young folks
Wonderfully written and charmingly illustrated by Mia Posada, Ladybugs: Red, Fiery And Bright is an educational picturebook especially designed to entertain and inform young readers. Its rhyming verse text teaches the young reader about the life cycle of the ladybug, from egg to larva, to molting and eventually metamorphosing into the fiery red insect that everyone knows so well. Ladybugs also has a brief addendum that tells more basic facts about ladybugs, such as how farmers use them to control aphids. A superbly crafted and presented book for young folks, Ladybugs is enthusiastically recommended for both school and community library collections. ... Read more

Book Description

Did you know that a grasshopper makes its distinctive sound by rubbing its bristly hind legs together? Amazing discoveries abound in this intriguing tale of a day in the life of a grasshopper. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

a wonderful find...
What a great book! My 2 year old was going through a fear of insects phase and this book helped tremendously. Not only did it educate her on the life cycle of the grasshopper, it did so without talking down to her. Now, she actually looks forward to going outside to "visit all her bugs". ... Read more

Amazon.com

Sophie is an artist. She is also a house spider, but one that children will certainly cheer and not fear. Thewebs she weaves are spectacular--some are stars, or hammocks, or sunpatterns--and her mama is very proud of her.When she grows old enough to strike out on her own, however, she is not warmly greeted by the world at large. AtBeekman's Boardinghouse, a dull sort of place that "cried out for her talents," she only wants to beautify it with hergossamer artistry. But even as she is spinning a web of curtains for the front parlor, "blending a golden thread of suninto her silk," she is swatted by a screaming landlady! She scampers into the tugboat captain's closet where she sets towork on making him a new suit, day after day, a sleeve here, a collar there. Once discovered there (the captainscreeches and climbs out onto the windowsill), she moves on yet again. Now a much older spider, she climbs up a longstaircase to settle into a young woman's knitting basket. One day, the woman discovers Sophie... and smiles! Sophie,noticing that her new friend is pregnant and in need of a baby blanket, decides that she will spin one for her baby, acloth into which she weaves starlight, snippets of fragrant pine, wisps of night, old lullabies, playful snowflakes, and, inthe end, her very own heart. Illustrator Jane Dyer, who worked with Eileen Spinelli on When Mama Comes Home Tonight, has outdone herself inSophie's Masterpiece, painting this bittersweet story in gentle watercolors. She manages to convincinglyanthropomorphize Sophie, and paintings like the one of the courageous spider struggling up the long staircase, castinglong shadows, will linger long with readers. (Ages 4 and older) --Karin Snelson ... Read more

Reviews (14)

Absolutely perfect! An awsome book.
Sophie's Masterpiece: A Spider's Tale , written by Eileen Spinelli and illustrated by Jane Dyer is one of the very best children's book I have ever read.

The story concerns a spider named Sophie. Sophie doesn't just spin a web--she weaves extraordinary works of art. Everyone who knows her is in awe of her talents.

She strikes off on her own to a drab little boarding house where she takes up residence and weaves her wonderful webs--but none of the people there care for her webs--or for her, for that matter. Except for a boarder who is expecting a child. She welcomes Sophie into her room and as she knits clothes for the baby Sophie, now old and frail, weaves a special baby gift of her own.

Warm and touching without being maudlin, Sophie's Masterpiece is a kind and loving story with extraordinary illustrations the dazzle on their own yet blend perfectly with the tale.

I have given this book as a gift to many children and am told time after time that it soon ranks as those kids favorite book.

Sophie's Masterpiece is a masterpiece, indeed!

Amazing book. Sure to be remembered.
I bought this book for my 5 year old, whose name is also Sophie. The book discusses the journey of a spider through the years and her last loving gift before expiring. If your children know about Charlotte's Web, then they understand that spiders do not live forever and that makes the ending a little softer. We loved this book. Buy it you will not be disappointed.

Sweet story for children- single mothers will love this
Sophie is a sweet, caring, talented spider who weaves wonderful things for herself and the people she cares about. She says good-bye to her mother and strikes out on her own to beautify a boarding house. Her gifts are rejected by the staff there, sometimes even before she has a chance to spin them, but fortunately she discovers a young woman resident, knitting. The spider realises that she is knitting for a baby, but before a blanket can be knitted, she runs out of yarn. Sophie steps in to make the blanket for the baby, and the young woman accepts it with happiness.

The illustrations are nice, even if the spider is a little silly with her 8 multi-color socks. The picture of the mother with her baby in a bassinet by her bed is sweet, as the mother sleeps with her hand on her baby. I can only imagine that soon the little one will be snuggled in bed with her mama and they will both be wrapped in the blanket made by the caring spider.

Sophie IS a Masterpiece
Sophie's Masterpiece is just that. So well crafted by Eileen Spinelli with just the right choice of beautiful words. It is a sheer joy to read this one out loud to First graders up through Middle school.

Spinelli and Dyer have spun an enchanting tale...
I recently bought this book for my daughter. We both love it.

Sophie the spider is more talented than most. Everybody knows that someday Sophie will spin a masterpiece. When she comes to that point in life where a spider must "strike out on her own" Sophie finds herself at Beekman's Boardinghouse. It's a dull, drab place that cries out for her talent!

But her efforts go unappreciated at every turn. She tries to spin curtains for the parlor, make a colorful suit for a sea faring captain, and weave new slippers for the cook. Each time she is discovered and greeted with disdain or fear.

Sophie climbs her way to the very top of the boarding house stairs and makes her way to the knitting basket of a young, pregnant woman. This time when she is discovered the woman only smiles. A now frail and elderly spider, Sophie watches as the woman knits a pair of booties and a sweater for her soon to be baby. But when the yarn runs short there will be no baby blanket. The landlady offers a rough, scratchy old quilt that Sophie has encountered on her journey through the boarding house. Sophie knows that for a baby's soft skin it will never do. Sophie knows she is the only one to remedy the situation.

So she sets out to weave a blanket for the child even though she is feeble and weak with age. She goes to the wide windowsill and spins a blanket with her own soft silk and moonlight, starlight, lullabyes, playful snowflakes, and other wondrous snatches of the lovely world. Just as the baby is born Sophie hears the cry of the newborn and right there spins in her very own heart (be prepared for your eyes to tear up). Sophie has created her masterpiece.

Is this spider reminicent of the loveable Charlotte? Yes, most certainly. Nothing wrong with that. We could use more selfless, giving, artistic spiders in the world, after all. The art is very different too. You would never imagine a spider being pictured in quite this way, but I feel it works.

The language is poetic and soft, gently leading the reader along to the conclusion. Be sure to have your child run their hand along the book's cover to "feel" Sophie's web, which is slightly raised and also "glimmers" when held in the light. Also check for fun details. Sophie uses a thimble for stool and a bobby pin for a cain. She weaves colorful stockings--eight in all, one for each spidery leg!

If you want a fun contrast read this book with The Spider and the Fly, the classic cautionary victorian-esque poem by Mary Botham Howitt newly illustrated by Tony Diterlizzi. The spider in that book is completely opposite of Sophie, but the message is equally wonderful in a completely different way (a caldecott honor). Children will have a blast contrasting the two spider characters! (And I might add that it's an excellent reminder that there are also both good and bad people in this world). ... Read more

Book Description

The most colorful wings on the pond belong to the nimble dragonfly, but this delicate flying insect didn't start life in the air. Very young children will discover the secrets of metamorphosis as they enjoy this story of the life of a familiar backyard creature. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Beautiful!
This is an excellent book for a new reader. The wording is simple and easy to understand describing the life cycle of a dragonfly and the illustrations are quite beautiful. I gave this book to my 7 year old grandson and he loves it! I plan to buy more books in this informative, interesting series. I highly recommend it!! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Very promising!
I thought I was buying this book for my son to read a few years down the road when he fell into the 4-8 age range recommended. Imagine my reaction when, at 20 months, he started to push it onto my lap every morning saying, "Bees! Bees!" Now I'm not claiming my son is some sort of prodigy. I think this book is just one of those gems that captures the interest of children exceptionally well. True, part of it is undoubtably the illustrated overlays. Well, if reading this book to him now because of the fun pictures gets a child exposed to science and the world aroung him, it might lead to a real enthusiasm for the subject matter down the road. I can foresee many more of these first discovery books on our shelf soon!

The one thing that disappointed me enough to subtract a star from my rating was the lack of any information about the dangerous side of bees. No mention at all was made of their stingers, or that humans should keep clear of the hive unless they are properly outfitted and trained to handle bees. Parents will have to remember to stress this point on their own.

Otherwise, the text was very thorough in describing these creatures, their habits and social structure, as well as defining the bees' role in the natural world. The tone was straightforward and nonpatronizing enough that I found it interesting even as an adult. This book will definitely have a space on our shelf for all the children to come. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Always great
As an elementary school Spanish teacher this book is a lifesaver. While I found some of the translations slightly unusual it is a great way to use childrens literature to teach many subjects in Spanish. Since it is a favorite of all children and so well known the book is easily understood and can teach number, colors, days of the week, and the life cycle of a caterpillar. ... Read more

Book Description

Get the inside scoop on the world's most fascinating creatures!

• Meet a beekeeper
• Peek inside a beehive
• Find out how some bees make honey
• Learn more than thirty fun facts about these busy insects

Reviews (1)

Plain, plain, plain: When will this book ever end?
I love Eyewitness books, but I thought this book was boring. This book has some obeious facts about butterfly life cycles, some butter fly facts, and some moth facts. But when you read the book it seems like the book will never end because the book is so repetitive. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Paraeducators thumbs up!!
My 1st grade really got into the story of the earthworm. We even brought in real worms to hold!! It was very cool!

A wonderful introduction to study of earthworms and ecology
My multiage class of first/second grade students were entranced with the illustrations in this book. The simple format was easy for them to understand and allowed them to compare/contrast earthworms with other animals we have studied. It has led to a deeper study of the ecology and the beginning of a compost pile/wormery in our classroom. Best of all, the GIRLS were the best worm farmers! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Absolutely amazing!
I'd agree with the previous reviewer; however, the author (Joyce Cooper Arkhurst) was indeed the person responsible for popularizing the Anansi stories here in the USA! The vocabulary in the book introduces kids to Africa and West African terms and culture. Joyce was a storyteller at the New York City Public Library many years ago and received a grant to go to West Africa to research the rich oral tradition of storytelling in the villages. This book was the first to popularize the Anansi stories and opened the door for McDermott and others. Enjoy!

This is a great book for children and adult storytellers
The author has presented a simple, easy to read format which will be easy for children to read, understand, and most important, ENJOY! The humor is wonderful. The main character, Spider, will be easily recognizable to those children already familiar with the Anansi stories. Additionally, I am a teacher and have introduced oral storytelling into my second grade classroom. These stories are simple, rich and easy to learn for those who may be interested in becoming a storyteller themselves! It's a thoroughly enjoyable and wonderful book. ... Read more

Book Description

The Sliding Surprise books are proven best-sellers, with over one million copies sold! The four new titles, Who's Bugging You? Who's Hatching? Who's In The Sea? and Who's There? are now available! Stock up on these time-tested, interactive kid-pleasers. The only thing we've let slide is the price! ... Read more

Book Description

From bugs that swim to beetles that eat mice to butterflies of many colors, beginning readers will learn about the exciting world of bugs, beetles, and butterflies in this Science Easy-to-Read book. Carefully researched illustrations depict the insects in detail. A glossary identifies the name of each insect, and Science Fun activities encourage children to observe and learn. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Bugs,Beetles and Butterflies
Bugs, Beetles and Butterflies is an adorably illustrated, informative book for young readers. They are introduced to science with a rhythmic, easy to read text. There are questions at the end of the book to encourage verbal discussions and the exploration of the insect world around them. ... Read more