Butterflies Book

Describes the habitat, physical characteristics, and life cycle of butterflies, most of whom live in tropical areas.

Susan Hepler - Children's Literature

This entry in the "Animals of the Rainforest" series includes information about how butterflies survive in the rainforests of Central and South America, their future in the rainforest, a map where a particular member of a species is located, charts, and sidebars of interesting facts. The heaviest concentration and the greatest biodiversity of butterflies is found in Costa Rica but, says the text, there are butterflies all over the world (and the text mentions several in locations other than rainforests, facts a young reader should not be confused by). A short chapter is devoted to what the butterfly and its caterpillar eat which includes nectar and animal and plant juices, or plants. Predators, except for humans, are not mentioned in the text. In addition to the animal's life cycle, the book also discusses unique features of butterflies and their role in the rainforest ecology. Research is further supported by a labeled picture with page references to a butterfly's unique features, a glossary, well-selected and vibrantly colored photographs but with modest mostly descriptive rather than informative captions, an index, a few internet sites and other children's reference books, and a useful address to which to write. 2001, Steck-Vaughn,