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Insects

Butterflies are Pretty…Gross!

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Butterflies are Pretty…Gross!  Written by Rosemary Mosco, illustrated by Jacob Souva
Format:  Book
Who Its For:  Kids

Everybody loves a butterfly! These beautiful insects float gently through our gardens with their colorful wings, sipping nectar from flowers… and also eating moldy fruit. And dead animals. And even poop!  Yes, its a close-kept secret that butterflies are, well, gross! There is so much to learn in this informative book about butterflies; for example if you get near a Red Cracker butterfly it might fly RIGHT AT YOU and make a cracking noise. Most caterpillars (butterfly babies) eat leaves, but did you know that some hunt bugs? Some caterpillars sound and smell like an ant and real ants are tricked into taking care of it till it grows up! Fascinating butterfly facts abound in Butterflies are Pretty…Gross!. If you have or are a kid who loves nature in all its weirdness, this book is for you!

Find Butterflies are Pretty…Gross! in the catalog

Summer Walk

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Title: Summer Walk by Virginia Brimhall Snow
Format: Book
Who It’s For: Kids (And Adults)

Are you looking for an engaging read that not only sparks your child’s imagination but gets their body moving?   With these times of social distancing and isolation it can be difficult to find safe, fun ways for our littles, and no so littles, to connect with the outside world.

In Summer Walk, we have a rhyming tale of a summer adventure shared between Grammy and her grandkids.  The story walks us along as they discover and identify 24 insects.  The detailed pencil sketches of this family unit form an intricate backdrop for the bold and colorful featured insects.  Following the story, there are fun insect facts, as well as, a nature themed craft and activity you and your child can do together.  They become the perfect learning extensions when you get back from your own Summer walk.

I love this book not only because it is a doorway to the outdoors which seamlessly melds learning with doing, but because it reminds me of my own children and the time they spent making memories with their Grammy.

Find it in the catalog , check it out and begin making your own summer memories today!

Spider in a Glider

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Spider in a Glider by Lesley Sims and David Semple
Format: Book
Who It’s For: Kids

Spider in a Glider is another in the wonderful series of Usborne Phonics Readers. With a great rhyming structure and a terrific story this one will keep your kiddos totally entertained! Spider, a highly accomplished string-spinner is not satisfied. More than anything she wants to fly. But even with her beautifully spun wings, it is just not working. Her friend Beetle has the same passion for flight and he invites Spider to join him in his spiffy homemade glider. They climb aboard and strap in. Dragonfly tows the glider up high in the air! They’re flying!! The two friends loop and glide and enjoy the amazing view, until a sudden thunderstorm pops up. Your littles will love reading about Spider and Beetle’s narrow escape and ongoing friendship. Grownups will also like the helpful phonics information in the back of the book and everyone will enjoy the clear colorful illustrations full of movement and joy.   If you liked Spider in a Glider, try Crow in the Snow, or Bee Makes Tea!

Find it in the catalog