Are You A Ladybug? (Avenues) (Backyard Books)

My granddaughter loves this book. She can read most of it at the age of almost 7 (in 2 months). It's a great way to see the life cycle from a ladybug's viewpoint. Beautiful pictures and factual writing make this a great book about learning the ladybug life cycle.

I love the information given clearly that keeps my three and four year old students engaged. With this series I particularly enjoy the comparison of the insects to the children. We pretend to be the insect by using the information from the book.

I am totally "sold" on these books. My grandhildren love the two they have, and I am buying the other three. They are terrific in so many ways. The reader learns something factual, of course, but in the process has a wonderful time imagining being something very different. Readers cannot help learn at least some degree of empathy with all living things; they learn without effort what it is like to be a scientist - that is, that there is a whole life pattern behind any little creature, to be discovered.It is said that kids who speak two languages in childhood become smarter because of that: I imagine it's because concept (e.g. "table") and a given language's word for it are not fused together, but necessarily separate. I bet these books have a similar effect: they teach a pattern of empathy, and introduce a habit of assuming there is a rich and interesting story behind every little thing. And that there are some constant questions to ask: where do they get their energy (food) and how does their life develop, etc. If I were a cognitive scientist I would want to do research to see if they aren't a new and interesting "genre" of children's book.

My little grandson and I got into a lengthy discussion about ladybugs a couple of months ago and I thought it would be fun to continue the theme for his 4th birthday. I ordered this book to pair with a cute stuffed ladybug to present as a gift. After looking through it, I found the content and pictures to be informative and entertaining. I look forward to the response when it's received - the true test.My grandson enjoys having books read to him and I have a feeling this one will really hold his interest. I'll update if I find out differently...

Are you a ladybug? Well, even if you aren't you will love this book. If you are a young child (3 - 8 years old?) interested in ladybugs this is the book for you. Informative and entertaining, this is a very lovely, well written book, that engages children and adults alike with gentle humor and an engaging style that imparts a good deal of scientific information through words and beautiful, detailed artistic illustrations. It's written in language that is engaging to children, beginning with the question "Are you a ladybug?.... If you are your parents look like this." I especially like the ending which is both charming and multi-culturally illustrated: "However if your parents look a little like this or this or this you are not a ladybug, you are . . . (turn the page) a human child." I read this book to a 4 year old who is very interested in ladybugs and he has asked to have it read to him many times. An addendum gives some additional information about ladybugs. Like other reviewers, I was thrilled to find this book.

Loved by a PreK class.

Kids loved it. My 3 year old grandson read it over and over, using his own words.

This book (and the whole series) has been a hit in my preschool classrooms for years. The illustrations are fun and the topic is cleaver.