If you know a child who loves bugs, or one who enjoys gardening or someone that is interested in composting or decaying debris, then this is the book for them. Full of information about how things decay and breakdown told in a variety of poems in a variety of formats. From bacteria to worms to pillbugs we learn how they adapt and live in the decaying piles and help the environment. The back of the book was full of amazing information. Facts about the different poetry styles (some I was not familiar with), a glossary, experiments and other resources will allow the reader to further investigate. The illustrations are wonderful and add so much to the information. My grandson kept asking about the pictures and wanted to know what they were called, what they were doing and if there were any outside in our back garden. Definitely a winner in his eyes. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book via netgalley. ( )

Have you ever wondered what lives underneath and in between the leaves and debris on the forest floor? There are millions of tiny little organisms that work together to create a unique ecosystem. Some of them we can see and some of them can only be seen under the lens of a microscope.
The Book, Leaf Litter Critters is a unique approach to teaching science concepts while simultaneously learning about poetry. This book is recommended for optional purchase. It could be used in 4th through 6th grade classrooms to introduce decomposition and poetry if the teacher is teaching both language arts and science. The glossary and poetry notes further reinforce both science and language arts concepts introduced in the book. ( )

LEAF LITTER CRITTERS by Leslie Bulion contains nineteen poems exploring science topics related to decomposers and forest ecology.

Each two-page spread features a short poem, a science note, and a colorful illustration. The book concludes with a glossary, poetry notes, science investigations, a size comparison, and an infographic.

Librarians will find the combination of science and poetry useful for STEAM activities. The colored pages and attractive illustrations will draw student interest. Don’t let this fun book get lost in the poetry section. Work with teachers to integrate it into an elementary, cross curriculum activity.

Published by Peachtree Publishers on March 1, 2018. ARC courtesy of the publisher. ( )

So much is packed into this little book! Meticulously researched, you can learn about the bacteria, fungi, and insects that act as recyclers and decomposers in the "brown food web" with entertaining poems followed by science notes about each critter. What elementary or middle school kid wouldn't love a poem about pillbugs (isopods) with stanzas like "This crew can chew the whole night through / In dead leaf demolition, / And then they chew each others' poo, / For extra-rich nutrition!" I was fascinated by facts such as this one about the water bear (tardigrade): It can survive extreme environmental conditions for years by shrinking into a "tun" and stopping all bodily functions until things get better. It makes me wonder what amazing, life-saving abilities we can learn from all "leaf litter critters" and figure out ways to adapt their skills for human use in the future. I found myself singing the final poem to the tune of "My Favorite Things" before I even realized this was Ms. Bulion's intention. But wait, there's more! The book includes a scale that compares the sizes of each critter relative to a straight pin, a glossary, experiments to try, and websites and books to explore the topics further. My favorite part, I have to admit, was reading the poetry notes about each poem. Do you know what a rubliw is? I hadn't heard about this poetic form before this. Add Mr. Meganck's fun and bright illustrations and you've got a winning combination. (I received an ARC. Publication date: March 2018) ( )