Ladybugs
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\ Children's LiteratureThis entry in the "Wild Wild World" series contains an animal overview, interesting facts subcategorized by headings of double-page spreads (e.g., "Ladybug Defenses," "Finding Shelter," "Many Colors and Patterns," and "Mating") and numerous vivid close-ups arranged artistically or sequentially to illustrate a concept. Most of the photographs lack captions and surround and face the short paragraphs of text that appear on each page. For instance, a page about ladybug defenses shows the bug playing dead by folding up its wings and legs. While text says the bug secretes a secret weapon of orange-colored bitter tasting blood, no picture portrays this. Instead, photos of a bug caught in a spider web confuse the concept of defense. While a child does not to have to read much text or go far to discover what the photographs portray, by not using captions the series misses the chance to educate children as to how to "read" the photos more deeply or to confirm what we think is being pictured. Two unnecessary cartoon depictions of ladybugs plus remaining Chinese characters which reflect the Taiwanese source of this book mar this otherwise adequate informational text. A skimpy two-word glossary and no index make this an additional purchase for most libraries, or one to read as an introduction to the topic, since the good pictures might lead to research in other more completely realized texts. 2003, Blackbirch Press/Gale Group, Ages 7 to 11. \ —Susan Hepler, Ph.D.\ \
