Fireflies

Excellent photographs support basic information written at a beginning reader level. Titles focus on a few key areas, such as wasps’ nests and stingers, rather than trying to cover too much for new readers to absorb. Most books describe the activities of a single insect, though different species are depicted in the photos. Many images provide strong visual details that will leave an impression, such as an egg-laying moth and a dragonfly munching on a bee. In most but not all cases, photographs directly support the written text. Language is deliberately easy to understand, and the author has kept the earliest readers in mind, so simplifications such as skipping the larva and pupa stage of the mosquito’s life cycle are acceptable. Kids can find plenty more details in other books, but in many ways these are ideal for those making that first step into independent nonfiction reading.