Science Books & Films Review for Animal Diaries: Life Cycles

[Starred review]. Animal Diaries: Life Cycles is a marvelous series of children’s books designed for the child who is sitting quietly at the pond or the one chasing the butterfly or asking where do frogs come from? This review is based on the following titles: A Spider’s Life, A Frog’s Life, A Kangaroo’s Life, A Snake’s Life, and A Butterfly’s Life. All are written at an elementary level using the best learning theory to develop a story for the young inquiring mind. Each book takes an animal from egg laying or pregnancy to adulthood. The life cycle of each animal is shown with superb illustrations. For example, a picture of the actual size of a butterfly egg is shown or a series of how legs develop in pollywogs from the hind limbs to the front limbs with superb photographs. Each life cycle is filled with questions for the reader about the animal and its characteristics. For example, the adult kangaroo hops 28 feet at a time. The reader is asked to measure out some string for the person’s height. Then lay out the string counting how many times it takes to make 28 feet. Can you hop that far in one hop? The series is filled with questions designed to clarify and intrigue the young reader. Each life cycle includes an illustrated list of the science words used that are clearly explained. Each life cycle has a “Science Lab” section that deals with intriguing questions about each animal. There is also a “Read More” section directing the reader to additional material as well as an “On Line” section. This series is highly recommended and will be a useful science supplement for the elementary classroom, school library and children’s section of the public library.