It is fun to keep records of what time of year insects show up.
Take this oblong-winged katydid nymph.
I found the same kind on May 1, 2013.
It is nice to know you can count on some things.
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Bees get a lot of credit as pollinators, but flies can also carry pollen from flower to flower.
Take this peacock fly (Tephritidae). Although it gets its common name from its colorful wings, its eyes are also reflect rainbow hues.
The hairs on the thorax trap pollen while the fly feeds on nectar.
Can you see the droplet of nectar it is holding? It looks like it is blowing a bubble.
The nectar fuels its flight to another flower where it might drop some of the pollen it has picked up.
Have you ever seen a peacock fly?
If you gaze up at the night sky this weekend you might see some “shooting stars” from the annual Lyrid Meteor Shower.
Going out to look for meteor showers at night can excite an interest in space and astronomy.
It will likely raise questions, too. For example, have you ever considered that some of the stars you see while stargazing at night may have planets circling them? The new picture book Just Right: Searching for the Goldilocks Planet by Curtis Manley and illustrated by Jessica Lanan introduces young readers to idea that planets exist outside our solar system while at the same time exploring the things that make the Earth special.
What really makes the book work is that readers are guided on their path to discovery by a young girl who is shown in most of the illustrations (see the cover). As she moves on her journey from a park through a visit to a planetarium and back home to look at the night sky, the illustrator creates a story line that children relate to and understand. This is picture book nonfiction at it finest.
Just Right is guaranteed to thrill budding astronomers. It is also perfect for units on planets or space. Look up a copy today!
Age Range: 5 – 9 years
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press (January 29, 2019)
ISBN-10: 1250155339
ISBN-13: 978-1250155337
Check out our growing list of children’s books about planets and the solar system at Science Books for Kids.
Disclosure: This book was provided by our local library. Also, I am an affiliate with Amazon so I can provide you with cover images and links to more information about books and products. As you probably are aware, if you click through the highlighted title link and purchase a product, I will receive a very small commission, at no extra cost to you. Any proceeds help defray the costs of hosting and maintaining this website.
Come visit the STEM Friday blog each week to find more great Science, Technology, Engineering and Math books.
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