Arnosky, Jim. 2008. THE BROOK BOOK: EXPLORING THE SMALLEST STREAMS. Westport, CT: Dutton Children’s Books. ISBN 9-780525-477167Mayflies begin their lives here while some fish and wildflowers spend their whole lives here. The chickadee and muskrat depend on it for survival. Brooks can be interesting places and Jim Arnosky sets out to ensure readers of his book know why. With sections on insects, amphibians, plants, fish and more; the reader learns about what can be found in and around brooks and how best to appreciate those things. With particular focus on study and preservation, Arnosky includes strategies for having the least negative impact on this fragile ecosystem. His tone is informative and instructional without being patronizing. Detailed information such as the materials used by the Caddis flies to build their cases sets THE BROOK BOOK apart from other more general books on water ecosystems. The realistic illustrations are labeled and often accompanied by a life-sized silhouette, giving readers a sense of dimension and perspective. An author’s note geared toward teachers encourages the use of brooks as an outdoor learning environment. Also included is a bibliography of resources for additional study on brooks. This piece of informational literature has neither a table of contents nor an index, though its organization lends itself to the use of both. Unfortunately, if the reader is in search of a specific piece of information about brooks, he or she must either browse or read the entire book.
This informational resource on brooks is appropriate for readers ages 5-9.
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