CM Magazine: A New Frog: My First Look at the Life Cycle of an Amphibian. (My First Look at Series).

________________ CM . . . . Volume VI Number 3 . . . . October 1, 1999

A New Frog: My First Look at the Life Cycle of an Amphibian. (My First Look at Series).

Pamela Hickman. Illustrated by Heather Collins.
Toronto, ON: Kids Can Press Ltd., 1999.
20 pp., cloth, $6.95.
ISBN 1-55074-615-4.

Subject Heading:
Frogs-Life cycles-Juvenile literature.

Preschool - grade 3 / Ages 3 - 8.
Review by Joan Payzant.

**** /4

New Duck: My First Look at the Life Cycle of a Bird. (My First Look at Series).

Pamela Hickman. Illustrated by Heather Collins.
Toronto, ON: Kids Can Press Ltd., 1999.
20 pp., cloth, $6.95.
ISBN 1-55074-613-8.

Subject Heading:
Ducks-Life cycles-Juvenile literature.

Preschool - grade 3 / Ages 3 - 8.
Review by Joan Payzant.

**** /4

excerpt:

These are the new ducks
that grew from the fledglings,
that grew from the ducklings,
that hatched from the eggs,
that were laid in the nest,
that was built by the ducks,
that swim in the park
where Paul plays.

These two books form part of the series, "My First Look At Nature." They are extremely attractive, hard-covered books in a compact size for small hands. Each open-faced page illustrates a brightly coloured natural scene. A feature that makes them especially intriguing is a flap on each left hand page which opens to add details or a little quiz about the main picture. In both books the text is reminiscent of "The House that Jack Built," with a new element being added to the story with the turning of each page, as in the excerpt above. The last page in each book has a note for parents.
     A New Frog, subtitled "My First Look at The Life Cycle of an Amphibian," will have great appeal for children who wish to identify different types of frogs and see pictures of their mating and egg-laying, plus tadpoles hatching and growing into froglets. The "Note to Parents" page has ideas for pond-watching and also for making a primitive but effective waterscope, an aid to seeing life under the surface of a pond.
     A New Duck is subtitled "My First Look at the Life Cycle of a Bird," the bird in this case being a mallard duck. Collins has created lovely paintings of the adult male and female birds, their nest, eggs and ducklings. Inside the flaps are more details about mallards and also illustrations of other birds which show ways in which they, their nests and their eggs differ from mallards. The "Note to Parents" gives ideas on how to further a child's interest in birds, with instructions in making a simple birdhouse from a milk carton.
     Both books are worthy additions to home or school libraries.

Highly recommended.

Joan Payzant is former teacher and teacher-librarian who lives in Dartmouth, NS.

To comment on this title or this review, send mail to cm@umanitoba.ca.

Published by
The Manitoba Library Association
ISSN 1201-9364

TABLE OF CONTENTS FOR THIS ISSUE - October 1, 1999.