Who knew that decaying matter could be intriguing? Leslie Bulion knew. She has created Leaf Litter Critters, a fascinating look at the ins and outs of brown matter, AKA the leaf litter layer. From the cover to the last page, this is one amazing little volume. Here are my top ten reasons to read and share a copy of this book.

10. Cover

Check this out: a blue bug-eyed frog with a humongous tongue, sitting on a pile of garbage with all kinds of crazy creatures twisting, turning, leaping, spying, escaping all around.
Wait! I think the frog has teeth. Really?  And what's with all those spinning things? Are they dive-bombing the frog or are they trying to escape that major-long tongue?
This looks like one wild read.
It's a slim book: only 56 pages. It slides easily into the front pouch of your hoodie. It can go wherever you go. Science made simple.

9. Subject matter

Are you into gross? Are you into slimy? Creepy? Crawly? Are you ready to venture into the dark and dank area known as the "brown food web" ?
​Welcome to the world of bacteria, fungi, mites, earthworms, millipedes, beetles and many more critters. Probably best not to read this while eating chocolate-covered gummy worms. Just sayin'.

8. Comparison charts & MORE

Just how big are these critters IRL? A comparison graphic gives you a good idea. Using a pin, and even the head of pin, scale renderings put relative sizes in proper perspective. You'll also find a glossary (with illustrations), specific information on how to conduct your own investigations, as well as additional resources you can access online. A selection of books will further your own  explorations.

7. Berlese Funnel

You want to see these critters for yourself?  You can!  Build your own equipment to view these creatures. You're gonna need a one-liter soda bottle, a light bulb, a small piece of mesh, ethyl alcohol to preserve your specimens, and some tweezers to pick up the little critters.  You'll find more information on page 53.
Note: The soda bottle should be empty. That means you get to drink a liter of soda.  But it’s okay because you're doing this for science. View the berlese video

5. Big words

Stop using those lame descriptions such as "those little white things with a ton of legs" and up your game by referring them as symphylan.
No no, my friend, that's not a squishy blob of oozing jelly. That's an amoeba.
​Amaze your teachers. Astound your friends. 
Bonus: that critter to the right is called a rotifer. 
​You're sounding smarter already!

6. Way-cool factoids

Every poem is accompanied by a Science Note. If you enjoy collecting factoids, this is the place for you. Did you know that: One hundred million to one billion bacteria might live in the water film of one teaspoon of soil? It has been estimated that four out of every five animals on Earth are nematodes?  Mites are no bigger than a grain of sand? Centipedes have between 15 and 191 pairs of legs, one pair for each body segment?  You can own the "strange but true" catagory.

4. Illustrations

Robert Meganck, how can you make such disgusting animals, living amid rot and ruin, so fascinating? The colorful comic-style illustrations are terrific.  Consider the expressive faces, especially those bugged-out eyes. Look at the springtale with multiple knives, forks, and spoons slurping up nematodes as if they were strands of spaghetti.  Check out the mites with ferocious features and sharp teeth for ravaging roundworms. Comics beneath your feet.

3. Poetry

Leslie Bulion can wax poetic on denizens of decay. Seriously, she is the Shakespeare of duff. Yup. That's a real word. She uses cinquain, free verse, shape poetry, triolet, kyrielle, two voices, ballad, and clerihew. She also explains words like stanza, beats, rhythm, and poetic form. Yeah, it sounds like a lot. But you can skip the explanations, AKA  Poetry Notes found in the back. You don't have to know how they are constructed to just enjoy them. They are fun to read aloud. Try one of these in science class. Or if you are especially daring, share one in English.

2. FUN! 

Why should science be boring? Seriously. Why should learning about your environment be an endless recital of textbook copy?
​Guess what. It's not. Remember when you were a little kid and used pick up rocks to discover what was underneath them? Did you ever squat down on the ground to play with pillbugs, watching them roll into a round little ball? Now you can do that for real. It’s called science.

1. STEM with a side of STEAM

You want multi-disciplinary? This book takes STEM to the next level. Find basic science information and ideas for further investigations.  Get your observation, experimentation, research skills on. But wait... There's more. Use the left side of your brain to design imaginative collages, comics, or infographics for stunning visual displays.  Then get your word nerd on by composing poems, raps, song lyrics, and more to share the wonder of the world down under.

This collection of fascinating rodents is arranged by size, beginning with the smallest. I found the answer to my first question on page one. The pygmy jerboa is the world's smallest rodent and possesses extremely long legs. The 1-inch leg and 1/2-inch foot can jump up to 10 feet! Yes indeed. I had my ruler with me, measuring these furry creatures as I moved through the pages. Each image is accompanied by a paragraph of fascinating trivia, not the boring stuff, but the information that kids love to memorize and rattle off. Did you know that chipmunks can collect as many as 165 acorns a day to store for the winter? How about an African giant pouched rat that detect tuberculosis lab samples with a "higher accuracy rate in ten minutes than a human technician can in a whole day." This is the stuff that young trivia enthusiasts thrive on.
Moving on to my second question: How to depict all these animals at actual size? The very clever Munro figured out a way. As the animals become progressively larger, we see parts of the animals, the beavers' webbed feet, a close-up of the capybara head in profile. Each body part is presented at an authentic size.

Back matter includes a brief description of each animal pictured with scientific species and genus name for most, body measurements, habitat, and an interesting fact or two.  Additional general information consists of a glossary, an index, and a list of sources and websites. 

Historically the world of juvenile literature has paid little attention to the achievements of female scientists. But that is changing. There have been a number of excellent single subject biographies chronicling the life and contributions of individual women of science. These biographies have been published as picture books as well as nonfiction studies for middle grade and teen readers.
Anthologies and studies of women working in related fields can be important additions to a juvenile collection. These formats provide readers with a focused retrospective on the contributions of women to the field of scientific study. 

Additional resources for the study of women of science.

Back matter includes an author's note, including mention of Caroline's "prickly personality", bibliography, glossary and timeline. Caroline's Comets: A True Story offers a fascinating glimpse into the development of astronomy and the life of a remarkable woman. ​

The action is so intense, that readers will breathe a sigh of relief when Ederle eventually reaches land with her record-breaking time for any individual to swim the Channel: 14 hours and 39 minutes. Book design, with full page spreads featuring illustration by Matt Collins heightens the drama. Excellent back matter, including Afterword, Sources and Resources, Source Notes and an Author's Note explaining the confusion surrounding the year of Ederle's birth enrich this excellent biography.

There has been a renaissance in picture books about inventive young girls and women. Students can experience their own "Age of Discovery" with these recently published titles. They are well worth reading and adding to your collection.