Review by Booklist Review
This lovely tribute to dragonflies features two simultaneous narratives. One, probably intended for younger readers but sure to be enjoyed by all, is a bouncy, rhythmic flow of basic facts that appear in oversize, multicolor fonts, popping with onomatopoetic expressions that complement the titular refrain (""Soar high, dragonfly!""). The additional story line takes the form of short informational paragraphs that appear in a sober, smaller font, best suited to slightly older aspiring entomologists. The text follows the insect's life cycle, from egg to nymph to full-grown dragonfly, providing a substantial amount of information in relatively few pages. The attractive collage illustrations fill the pages with bright color, effectively complementing details highlighted in both narratives. The singsong text begs to be read aloud, and the striking illustrations, reminiscent of Eric Carle's critters, propel the action. This enjoyable offering from the team responsible for Good Trick, Walking Stick (2016) will make a handsome addition to school and public library collections.--Kathleen McBroom Copyright 2019 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 3-Using narrative and thoughtful sidebars, this title follows the life cycle of the dragonfly. The cycle begins in spring with the laying of eggs by an adult dragonfly on a pond, (an interesting fact: some dragonflies lay their eggs inside plant stems for protection). It follows the cycle from egg to nymph to adult to mating. Dragonflies mate by holding onto each other in the shape of the letter "O" as they float through the air. It ends with autumn and the laying of new eggs. The sidebars are facts about dragonflies written in different fonts and colors and varying in location from top, bottom, and side. This format might be off-putting to younger readers as it looks like dense text, but the writing style makes the information accessible to all. Characteristics and terms that might be new to readers are defined within the text. While the narrative is often several sentences in block format, similar to the informational text, there are also pages with just a few enthusiastic words in large print: "Soar high, dragonfly!" for example. The illustrations are reminiscent of Eric Carle's brightly colored collages that jump off white backgrounds. VERDICT This title could be used on many levels: very young audiences will enjoy as a picture book, while budding scientists will appreciate the narrative and informational text together. An excellent addition.-Susan Lissim, Dwight School, New York City © Copyright 2019. 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
The story of a single dragonfly from egg to adult is featured in the main text, while a parallel text rounds out the scientific facts. Colorful collage-like illustrations portray each stage in the dragonfly life cycle: pond-side as eggs are laid, under water as a nymph, then up into the air as an adult. (c) Copyright 2021. 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
A circular account of a dragonfly's life span told simultaneously as a narrative and a collection of scientific facts.The creative duo behind Good Trick, Walking Stick (2016) returns to the insect world. Readers follow the life cycle of a green darner dragonfly, from its mother laying eggs to fertilizing its own before leaving to "find warmer days" elsewhere. The primary text, set in a relatively large font, relates the development of a particular dragonfly in a preschool-friendly manner with simple sentences, sound effects, and a rhythmic refrain"Oh my, a baby dragonfly!"that varies the first few syllables with each repetition. Supplementary text is in smaller, multicolored type and gives a factual description of the species, complete with vocabulary definitions and fourth wall-breaking questions to encourage inquisitive thought: "Do you think that the nymph looks like a dragonfly?" Blocks of this text are tucked into the corners of spreads, so younger readers can choose to skim them over while older or inquisitive readers can learn more about the natural world. Unfortunately, there is no informative backmatter to further help them on their way. Lambert places marbled colors la Eric Carle against a plain, mostly white background. The result is a rich vibrancy that makes the book and its insect protagonist delightfully attractive.Dynamic colors and textual versatility make for a quality nonfiction read. (Informational picture book. 5-8) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
