Reviewed by Sarah Haines
Science Education Professor
Often in elementary level life science, we focus on the mature stages of living organisms. Children learn to recognize them quite well, but they may not be as familiar with how the organisms got that way in the first place. For example, many children do not recognize larval forms of insects or the seeds of plants, but they can easily name adult forms.
This book is one in a series that focuses on the life stages of various living organisms. Written at approximately a fourth to fifth grade level, the text provides an elementary but fascinating look at the life cycle of a tomato plant. The magnified photos are sure to attract the young reader as they gain an up–close look at the life stages of a typical plant. These full page photos with captions support a large text so the books can be accessible to younger readers as well. The books ends with a very nice summary of the entire life cycle of the tomato from seed to adult. This full page outline of the organism's life cycle includes thumbprints to reference the photos in the book. There is a glossary, an index, and several print and online resources. The books in this series would be excellent for supporting National Science Standard C: Life Science–Life Cycles of Organisms.
Review posted on 8/22/2012
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