Yellowjackets

Grade 3-5-Crisp, greatly enlarged, full-color photographs are the chief drawing cards of these introductions. The accompanying texts are, in varying degrees, less successful. Ants briefly describes the insects' major physical characteristics; their stages of development; the various functions the queen, worker, and male perform; and the behavior of about eight different species. While the text is clearly written, important information has been omitted. For instance, ants' compound eyes are not mentioned, and terms such as metamorphosis and pheromones are not employed, although the topics are discussed. Dorothy Patent's Looking at Ants (Holiday, 1989) offers more detail on anatomy, senses, and many of the same species. Yellow Jackets also omits some important data and is further flawed by anthropomorphism. In a chatty style, a worker yellowjacket describes its life cycle; the respective activities of the queen, worker, and male; and some characteristics of related species. Little information is given on the insects' physical characteristics, senses, or diet. The breezy character of the narrator is obtrusive, frequently inane, and does not match the scientific information presented. Dorothy Souza's Insects in the Garden (Carolrhoda, 1991) includes a section on wasps that covers similar ground in a straightforward, nonfictionalized manner.
Karey Wehner, San Francisco Public Library
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.