INSECTS AND PLANTS

In slightly shrill, school marmish tones (now, bend over; smell this; oooh, look at that; no, no, no, you mustn't pick the flowers in the park), the author coaxes young nature walkers to go with her-- and she won't leave them for a minute, lest they get into some destructive mischief-- on a guided tour of blossoms and bugs. She doles out quantities of information amidst her chattering instructions, but sometimes makes the grave error of describing natural processes without defining her terms, e.g. Stigma, pistil. In her attempt to make this jaunt into an exciting little game, Miss Cooper has talked down in a manner which will offend her audience. Straight facts presented in a lively but more adult fashion would probably better satisfy would-be otanists/biologists. The author has done better--Science in Your Own Back Yard (1958, p. 79, J-25).