Leaf Litter Critters by Leslie Bulion; Review by Elaine Alexander
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Bulion, Leslie and Robert Meganck. Leaf Litter Critters. Atlanta: Peachtree Publishers, 2018. ISBN: 9781561459506
SUMMARY
A homage to the tiny creatures that reside in the "leaf litter layer" and their important work in the cycle of decomposition! Each of the nineteen poems introduces readers to the science and ecosystem behind the fascinating creatures that make up "Earth's recycling crew" (Bulion 6) and is backed up with a note to explain each concept or organism in more detail. This clever book of poems is as much a treasure trove as the subject matter. As readers explore the content, there is a sense of pealing back layer upon layer of learning, to discover what is hid beneath the surface in this fun and informative book on decomposition.
ANALYSIS
Leaf Litter Critters has tremendous appeal for a classroom setting. Not only is the book colorful and inviting, it is packed with scientific facts, a glossary of terms, science notes for older readers, and a section breaking down each poetic form used, but it also has a activity guide in the back that is complete with a materials list and guide on what to do to perform litter critter investigations in the field.
While the poems are packed with science, there is a sense of playfulness that make the subject matter appear much more accessible. Several of the selections make use of rhyming text -- no easy feat with the scientific subject matter. The artwork supports the text in a way that accurately covers the concepts, but also brings a note of frivolity, too. Springtails appear to fly off the page, toothy mites menace over springtails, and worms pop their eyes at the sight of a hungry bird. The overall effect is a fusion of silly and science that make the idea of studying soil much easier to dig.
A surprising addition to this science text is the list of poetry notes next to the glossary. Each of the nineteen poems highlights a different poetic form and an explanation is given to readers, should they want to try their own hand at the various types of formats. More impressive still, is the activity list in the back to perform your own Litter Critter Investigations. There is a list of needed materials, suggestions for how to stay safe, as well as instructions for what to do both in the field and back in the lab to examine soil samples. There are two different options, one without special equipment and the other for those that have access to a microscope.
The book concludes with a chart showing the comparative sizes of each of the critters mentioned in the book, as well as a list of resources for those who want to take their investigations further.
Use & Highlight Poem
For the highlight poem, I would choose, Our Friend, the Earthworm and do a hands-on science activity with kids -- make worm habitats. A simple habitat can be made out of a 2-liter bottle. To help make sure that the worms tunnel close to the visible parts of the container, an empty paper towel tube could be placed in the center of the bottle to fill some of the space prior to putting in soil and worms. Make a dark paper sleeve that can be removed later when you want to observe the worms in action.
Our Friend, the Earthworm
This ecosystem engineer,
Who tills the soil its whole career,
Can stick its throat outside its mouth,
And make leaf litter disappear.
It vacuums up great gobs of duff,
(The deadish, brownish, leafy stuff)
And grinds it smaller, in its gut,
Where sand stands in for teeth -- that's rough!
And critters caught in each worm gulp,
Get pulverized to critter pulp,
Worm castings are the undigested
masterpieces all worms sculp.
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