A combination
of actual photos and art takes the young reader on journey
that follows the life cycle of the spotted salamander. The
story begins on a rainy, spring evening as a little girl and
her father, a scientist, watch as hundreds of spotted salamanders
head for a vernal pool where they will breed and lay eggs.
The father-daughter duo will return over the following months
to watch the salamanders develop through their complete amphibian
metamorphosis which will culminate in the adult salamanders'
disappearance into the surrounding woods in late summer.
For a
child interested in natural history or biology this book will
not only explain the process of amphibian metamorphosis but
it will also hopefully excite the youngster enough that he
or she will want to do further reading and even do some field
studies.
Four
pages of learning activities are included as well, so the
reader should be immediately engaged with the topic. This
book is ideal for classroom use or inclusion in a home schooling
situation.
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