A Step-by-Step Guide for Kids
by Carol Pasternak
Firefly Books, 2012
ISBN 978-1-77085-002-6
$8.95, 48 pp, ages 8+
fireflybooks.com
I’ll be the first to admit that a monarch butterfly isn’t your traditional family or class pet, but the magic of watching your pet grow from egg to caterpillar, through chrysalis transformation, and finally to a monarch is worth the journey! Pasternak’s clear explanations for each stage of raising a monarch is paired with rich, colourful photographs that make you want to run outside and explore. This text is simple enough for 8-year-olds and engaging enough for teenagers; self-contained enough to support a brand new enthusiast and detailed enough to include interesting facts for an experienced butterfly-raiser. And both bug enthusiasts and avoiders will find the step-by-step instructions easy to follow for your month-long journey. Also, there are suggestions of organizations or web links to go to for further information. A great resource for teachers and an engaging classroom library addition.
Classroom Connections: Easily connected to Understanding Life Systems in Science. For primary grades (observe and compare changes in the appearance and activity of animals as they go through a complete life cycle), junior (habitats and biodiversity), as well as intermediate grades (environment and ecosystems). Any naturalist learner in your classroom will be happy to have the outside world brought inside through the images in this text and through the collection of a class pet!
Review by Amanda Forbes.
This review is from Canadian Teacher Magazine’s Sept/Oct 2014 issue.