Zoom in on Ladybugs

by Melissa Stewart

Enslow, 2014

for ages 5–7; Lexile 480

ISBN 978–0‑7660–4215‑5 (HC)

ISBN 978–1‑4644–0373‑6 (PB)

Purchase this book at your local independent bookseller or Amazon.com.

Explore the world of the ladybug through stunning, close-up photos and clear, lively text that’s perfectly suited for beginning readers. Find out what ladybugs eat, how they stay safe, and how they make more ladybugs. Zoom Bubble images provide an up-close look at different parts of a ladybug’s body, including its wings, eyes, and antennae.

Honors and Awards

Junior Library Guild selection

Reviews

“Enslow continues to “Zoom in,” this time focusing on insects. Stewart breaks down these bugs part by part, providing basic information on antennae, legs, wings, eyes, as well as on their life cycles and habitats, relying upon sparse text ideal for young readers and a colorful, eye-catching layout. [C]lose-up images will engage children. Further reading, index, websites.” (School Library Journal)

“The Zoom in on Insects! series does just what good science books for a young age group should: offer facts in short but easily understandable texts. Clear and engaging photos help whet readers’ appetites to learn more. The titles follow a pattern, introducing habitats, body parts, and how the titular subject evolves. Bees is a fine introduction to the insect and offers a cool close-up of a stinger. Each book ends with an illustration of the insect’s life cycle and a page directing children toward helpful websites. The best part of the series is the wonderfully crisp photos, with certain images—an insect’s eye, for example—lifted from the larger picture and put into a ‘zoom bubble,’ where kids can really see what’s going on. Primary-grade students and their teachers will certainly appreciate this.” (Booklist)

Behind the Book

“I’ve written several books that included ladybugs—Under the Snow; When Rain Falls; Maggots Grubs and More: The Secret Lives of Young Insects—but this is the first time that I took a thorough look at their body features, their lifecycle, and their daily activities. I learned so much.

“But when it came time to write the text for Zoom in on Ladybugs, I faced a formidable hurdle—I could only include a few hundred words, but there was so much information I wanted to share.

“How did I solve my problem? With a little help from a friend—a friend who’s an entomologist. She helped me decide what to include and how to make good use of the Zoom Bubble images that characterize the series.”

Series at a Glance

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Zoom in on Insects