Lifetimes

"NO MATTER HOW SHORT, NOW MATTER HOW LONG, NO MATTER HOW BIG, HOW SMART OR HOW STRONG, ALL LIFE HAS A PLACE, A PURPOSE AND WORTH. ALL LIFE IS IMPORTANT ON OUR PLANET EARTH."So begins-and ends-this beautiful story which beautifully speaks the lessons of many of Earth's creatures.This is not a book you can-or will want to-read in one sitting. Each beautifully illustrated page invites the reader to explore further the plant, animal or object featured. Children will beg their parents to take them to the library to learn more about the creature pictured on each page. (I should know. My 4 ½ year old has developed a tremendous fascination with Venus Flytraps after reading this book.)Each page begins with the life expectancy of a new creature (plant or animal) or the age of an object (sun, planet, universe.) The author then shares just enough information about each creature to pique the interest of the reader, follows it with a small reminder of what this creature's life may teach us (Examples: "Army ants show us that if everyone works together, we can do almost anything." "Saguaros teach us how important it is to save -- and to share.") Each page then concludes with a few questions for further exploration (Examples: "Tell about a time when you helped protect an animal or someone who needed help." "Where is the one small area where Venus flytraps grow in the wild?" "If everyone in your class held hands and made a circle, would the circle be big enough to go around the General Sherman tree?")This is not just another book about the environment, (though it certainly encourages us to develop an appreciation) but a rare treasure to be referred to again and again as our children discover their world and realize their very special purpose within it.