Zoom in on Butterflies

by Melissa Stewart

Enslow, 2014

for ages 5–7; Lexile 480

ISBN 978–0‑7660–4211‑7 (HC)

ISBN 978–1‑4644–0365‑1 (PB)

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

This book offers young readers an up-close look at our favorite insects. Stunning photos and clear, simple language introduces curious beginning readers to a butterfly’s body features and explains how the breath-taking insects live and grow.

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 plenty of books about butterflies, but I was attracted to this project because the Zoom Bubbles characteristic of the series would give young readers the chance to see a butterfly’s amazing body features up close. I couldn’t resist the opportunity to clearly and simply explain how butterflies eat, avoid enemies, and sense the world like no other creature on Earth.

“Because I was writing a book for beginning readers, I had to make hard choices about what to leave out. Luckily, a friend who is an entomologist came to the rescue. She helped me come up with an approach that worked.”

Series at a Glance

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Zoom in on Insects