Creek Critters

by Jennifer Keats Curtis, Phyllis V Saroff (Contributor)

"Do you like scavenger hunts? How do you tell if creek water is clean and healthy? Join Lucas and his sister as they act like scientists looking for certain kinds of bugs (aquatic macroinvertebrates) that can only survive in unpolluted waters. What will they find as they turn over rocks, pick up leaves and sort through the mud? Read along to find out if their creek gets a passing grade"--

Genres: Nature, Science, Childrens, Picture Books, Animals

32 pages, Paperback

Published June 1, 2020

Reviews

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

The narrator and her younger brother, Lucas, visit a creek to determine if the stream is healthy. Because certain stream bugs need certain conditions, including water that isn't polluted, in order to thrive, they are on a scavenger hunt of sorts, collecting bugs and foliage in a collecting bucket, and examining them before returning them to their natural habitat. I appreciated the gentle, respectful way these youngster treated nature and the animals they were inspecting. Although the youngsters also have a playful nature, it's clear that they have a serious side as well. Other youngsters reading the book may decide to follow their lead and check out the creeks near their own homes. If they do so, they may find the back matter useful since it provides four activity pages, including a scavenger hunt, an activity in which readers match nymphs to adult insects, a field notebook, and a listing of three different groups of bugs, categorized according to their tolerance for water that is somewhat polluted or if they require clean water in order to survive. This makes it possible to determine how healthy the water is, according to the species found in it or nearby.

[Anita Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

A simple book that teaches a bit about macro invertebrates and water quality. It is a very basic introduction to the topic. I wish the story has been developed a bit more to describe the critters they found and how the critters live. If my 5th grade students wrote a story like this, I’d give it a C for average.

[Mal the Bookworm · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't really like bugs at all but some can be really cool 😎. We need bugs to survive, like bees because they pollinate flowers for us. Not many people like bugs, but they can be really fascinating creatures.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good information with a overlying story that is a little awkward