Review by Booklist Review
Ages 4-8. On the underside of a leaf of resplendently blooming wildflowers nestles the tiny egg of a black swallowtail caterpiller. As it breaks out of its egg, Cherry's meticulously detailed likenesses of its lush garden home follow the creeper's development. Superimposed over this colorful, realistic background are slidelike magnifications depicting the caterpillar shedding its skin, defending itself against a hungry bird, forming a pupa, and emerging as an elegant, yellow-speckled, black butterfly. Gentle and respectful, as if not to disturb nature's order, Ryder's poetic text guides readers through the garden and the metamorphosis taking place there. Suggestions for plantings to attract the black swallowtail butterfly conclude this rare naturalistic presentation. --Ellen Mandel
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2-- For young children, there's no better way to introduce the world of science than through one of nature's miracles, and it is difficult to find a better example than in this wondrous story of birth and transformation. ``Imagine you are someone small. . .'' So begins the readers' journey as a tiny caterpillar embarking on one of life's odysseys. The story goes through the stages of growth as the egg evolves from birth to the glorious moment when the butterfly takes wing. Through the personalized adventure and Ryder's strong sensory imagery, readers become the tiny creature, growing and changing. As a wonderful postscript, Ryder gives directions for adapting a part of a garden to attract butterflies. The book is packed with good information presented in an imaginative way. Cherry's illustrations span the full page, using boxes in sequence to magnify details or follow action. Another special feature of her lush watercolors is the many small creatures hidden among the plant life, inviting readers to sharpen their powers of observation. As it opens children's eyes to one of the wonders of nature, this book is sure to delight as well as teach. --Virginia E. Jeschelnig, Willoughby-Eastlake Public Library, Willowick, OH (c) Copyright 2010. 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
Fiction: NF Age: K-3 Poetic text and pretty fields of flowers invite the child to imagine life as a growing caterpillar, a pupa, and finally a swallowtail butterfly. A concluding page of information further explains the life cycle. The science is sketchy, but the experiential approach will appeal to primary grade teachers. Horn Rating: Recommended, satisfactory in style, content, and/or illustration. Reviewed by: mab (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.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
As in her ""Just for a Day"" books, Ryder's poetic text here suggests that readers take the animal's point of view as she describes its experiences--in this case, a black swallowtail as it develops from egg to butterfly. The focus is on the sensory; fuller, more scientific information appears on a final page. Cherry's precise, delicate, colorful illustrations are the boos outstanding feature, giving the habitat the charm of a close-up view of familiar territory--a lush bed of wildflowers (which fail to change as the season advances), and many other small creatures. An attractive nature book. Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
