Kirby's Journal: Backyard Butterfly Magic

Gr 4–6—The life cycle of butterflies is presented in detail through this attractive and readable fictitious journal. Eleven-year-old Kirby is spending the summer away from home with grandparents and keeping a journal as a school assignment. Watching butterflies in the backyard, Kirby learns about gardening, photography, and scientific observation. Color photographs, drawings, notes, and doodles enhance each page, while notes "taped" to the pages highlight definitions and facts. There is no glossary, but the index allows readers to look up definitions of terms such as morphology, predator, and nectar plants. Field observations are casually dropped into the text. The photographs will attract browsers, especially images depicting the fascinating, minute-by-minute views of a monarch butterfly cracking its way out of its chrysalis. Kirby is a personable and likable character whose diary will appeal to kids.