Module Eleven : Butterflies and Moths

This book is about butterflies and moths. It covers all aspects of the life of these insects, from egg to adulthood, even mating.

Bibliography: Bishop, Nic (2009). Butterflies and Moths. New York, NY: Scholastic, Inc.

I really liked this book. The photographs are gorgeous, the information isn't over whelming, and the author even tells his story about getting the pictures for the book.

Reviews:

Children's Literature

Do you know how to tell the difference between butterflies and moths? It is not always easy. But after reading this book, you will have a better idea...and you will have learned quite a lot about these amazing insects. Did you know that the world's largest butterfly, the Queen Alexandra's birdwing, has a wingspan of almost a foot? Or that there are moths that feed on the tears of sleeping animals? Stunning photographs trace the life cycle of butterflies and moths as they grow from eggs no bigger than a grain of sand into hungry caterpillars (kids will be fascinated with the close-ups of the caterpillar's body) and then into adults. The extraordinary photographs on every page are spectacular—bright, colorful close-ups that will delight readers young and old. A four-page foldout shows, through photographs, a butterfly's flight. Straightforward, easy-to-understand and informative text introduces young readers to just a few of the almost 170,000 different types of butterflies and moths. At the end of the book, readers will find an index, brief glossary and author's notes. A book for younger readers but one everyone can enjoy. Highly recommended. Reviewer: Anita Barnes Lowen

School Library Journal

Gr 2-5
"There is no mistaking a butterfly," begins this striking, beautifully crafted exploration of these intriguing winged insects and their "more secretive" brethren. There's also no mistaking the loving care with which this book was made, setting gorgeous photographs against jewel-toned pages, with fascinating, meticulously captioned close-ups and new angles on a familiar subject (such as spectacular fold-out pages showing the mechanics of a butterfly's flight through a seamless series of photos). Bishop has received much well-deserved acclaim for his stunning photographs, but his text, too, stands out, with information-packed prose that shimmers like butterfly wings, capturing the sense of wonder that infuses his photographs. That passion also shines through in an afterword in which he shares the story of how he took the pictures (including a years-in-the-making mad dash to Costa Rica to photograph a caterpillar that can puff its body up to look like a poisonous snake before turning into a pupa). This book is an example of the very best kind of nonfiction-the kind that inspires as well as informs.-Kathleen Kelly MacMillan, Carroll County Public Library, MD

 In a library setting this book could be used in a teaching unit about insects, or in a display about animal books.

 
 Cover rights belong to Nic Bishop.