Leaf Litter Critters
by Leslie Bulion; Illustrated by Robert Meganck
Peachtree Publishers (March 1, 2018)
Nonfiction * Forest Ecology * Poetry * Humor
Audience: Ages 8-12
Indiebound | WorldCat
Description from GoodReads:
Have fun on this poetic tour through the leaf litter layer and dig into the fascinating facts about the tiny critters who live there. Nineteen poems in a variety of verse forms with accompanying science notes take readers on a decomposer safari through the "brown food web," from bacteria through tardigrades and on to rove beetle predators with other busy recyclers in-between. Glossary, hands-on investigations, and resources are included in the back matter.
Quick thoughts on Leaf Litter Critters:
There are times when I pick up a book and imagine myself standing in front of a classroom of students and reading it aloud. There are other times when I look at a book and imagine how I would utilize it in a series of lessons and activities with students. When I received a copy of Leslie Bulion's Leaf Litter Critters and started reading it, I had both of those experiences.
As I read through the first poem called "Litter Critters", I was loving the rich, descriptive terms and thinking about how I could use this to support many of my English Language Learners. I also thought about how I would use this poem and the others that followed as mentor text for various craft moves.
As I held the book in my hands, I loved the compact size and the way each poem was paired with science notes that provide readers with more information related to the subject of each poem. Additionally, I enjoyed Robert Meganck's illustrations. The one below along with the illustration for the poem on tardigrades were probably my favorites.
Of course, the poems and science notes are just part of the fabulousness of the book. The end of the book is also filled with information to geek out over and includes a glossary, poetry notes (information about each poem style), litter critter investigations, and a few resources.
If you are looking for some additional ideas for how to use the book with students, check out Leslie Bulion's blog for three poetry prompts.
Check out the other stops on the Leaf Litter Critters Blog Tour:
Mrs. Knott's Book Nook
Unleashing Readers
Poetry For Children
About the author: Leslie Bulion has written poetry since the fourth grade and has poked through soil and under rocks even longer than that. In addition to her other science poetry collections, Hey There, Stink Bug!, At the Sea Floor Café, and Random Body Parts, she has written several novels for young readers. She and her husband live in Connecticut, with surprise visits from various chipmunks, snakes, birds, mice, baby rabbits, spiders, and beetles who occasionally forget that they live outside. Visit her website at www.lesliebulion.com.
About the illustrator: Robert Meganck is a professor of illustration, graphic design, digital imaging, and color theory at Virginia Commonwealth University. He received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the Center for Creative Studies in Detroit, Michigan and an MFA from Cranbrook Academy of Art. He is the recipient of over three hundred awards for illustration and graphic design work. Visit his website at meganck.com.
Thank you to Peachtree Publishers for the opportunity to give away a copy of the book. Enter the rafflecopter below for an opportunity to win a copy. The winner must be 13 years old or older and have a US mailing address.
