THE ADVENTURES OF THE JUNIOR DETECTIVES BUTTERFLIES

Curious young investigators are invited to explore the world of butterflies in the second installment of Tomé’s Junior Detectives series.

For the readers—the Junior Detectives of the title—the adventure begins with gear, including a detective hat, a detective guide, a magnifying glass, and, last but not least, a map. The map will be especially useful, as in these pages they will be traveling by plane to a tropical forest to study butterflies in their natural habitat. Once in the forest, readers observe the life cycle of a butterfly, from butterfly’s egg laid on the top of a leaf to voracious caterpillar that will eventually make its own chrysalis where it will stay for up to three weeks to undergo metamorphosis into a butterfly. Junior Detectives will learn other fun facts about their subject, including the origin of the name “butterfly,” the environmental impact of butterflies and their pollination of plants, and more anatomical tidbits about their fragile wings and the way they retrieve nectar from flowers. Readers also observe and learn about standout species of butterflies, including the distinctive black and orange Monarch Butterfly, the endangered Queen Alexandra’s Birdwing, the super-fast Skipper Butterfly, and the nearly transparent Greta oto, or Glasswing, Butterfly. Tomé’s children’s book, the second in a series, is packed with interesting information not only about butterflies, but also ecosystems, including food chains and endangered species. Santos’ illustrations are vivid and cartoonish, and facts are presented through a simple storyline that invites the reader to investigate the forest as a fellow detective. While the conversational, call-and-response style of writing grows a bit repetitive, it feels suitable to engage curious young readers: “Hey, Junior Detectives, what is that on the leaf? It’s long, yellow, and fuzzy, and it looks like it’s eating the leaf? You’re right! It’s a caterpillar.”

A straightforward and charming introduction to the world of butterflies.