Orchid Mantises and Other Extreme Insect Adaptations

by Jodi Wheeler-Toppen, PhD.

Overview

A mantis disguised as a flower! Beetles that smear themselves in poop! Insects may be small, but they have adapted to their environments in some extreme ways. Discover some of the most interesting and unusual adaptations that allow insects to survive in all types of habitats around the world.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781491401712
Publisher:	Capstone
Publication date:	07/01/2014
Series:	Extreme Adaptations
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	7.30(w) x 7.80(h) x 0.40(d)
Lexile:	830L (what's this?)
Age Range:	8 - 10 Years

About the Author

Jodi Wheeler-Toppen is a former science teacher with a PhD in science education. She has been fascinated by insects for years, and even raised dung beetles in her classroom! Jodi is the author of a number of science books for children and teachers. Her activity book Science Experiments that Explode and Implode was a Junior Library Guild Selection in 2011. Jodi lives in Atlanta with her family.

Table of Contents

Extreme insects — A bug's life — Surprising suppers — On the hunt — Invasion of the insects.

Editorial Reviews

11/01/2014
Gr 3–5—From a giraffe's tongue to the dung beetle's diet, the animal characteristics highlighted here are sure to draw interest. Chapters group the creatures by common size, behavior, or habitat, a logical approach that will help readers keep track of the parade of odd and amusing facts covering more than 20 animals per book. The writing is lively and engaging, with a consistent focus on the ways in which adaptations are essential for survival. Most of the high-quality photos directly hone in on featured adaptations, such as the tail of the saltwater crocodile and the camel's double rows of eyelashes. Several animals in Thorny Devil Lizards and Mudskippers are described without accompanying images, so the more consistent visual support in the other two titles is preferable. Three "Critical Thinking" suggestions at the end provide workable but unexciting lead-ins to Common Core aspects. Attractive, adequate offerings.

School Library Journal