Leslie Bulion

This witty book for upper-elementary readers combines both science and language arts to introduce readers to some unusual creatures in symbiotic relationships.

Bulion explores various associations between organisms, asking:

“Protection, nutrition, or transportation:
Which service is offered in each situation?
Are there multiple benefits, in combination?
Such remarkable give-and-take partners!”

Poems written, fittingly, in two voices, describe fifteen such collaborations. Two “poetry show more partners” guide you on your journey -“Daisy” and “Honey Bee” who personify one of the symbiotic relationships most familiar to kids. (Honeybees drink nectar from flowers, carrying pollen as they fly from one flower to another. The nectar allows bees to make honey, and the pollen helps flowers to reproduce.)

Daisy and Honey will seem very ordinary, however, compared to the exotic creatures in relationships highlighted by Bulion, like the mountain treeshrew and a pitcher plant, or the fringed ornamental tarantula and a pug-snout frog.

The last poem was the most amusing to me. It describes the relationship between humans and bacteria, the latter helping with digestion in exchange for nutrients and housing. Bulion writes:

“I show my deep appreciation:
Food and shelter on location.
Still . . .
Sometimes some of you must go,
By process of elimination!”

Well, really, does anyone ever get too old for potty humor?

Each poem is written in a different style (such as a triolet or ghazal or ruba’i, all explained in the back matter) so that readers not only learn about how dissimilar creatures pair up for survival, but what diverse poetry formats look like. Robert Meganck’s whimsical illustrations balance the scientific details with a humorous and colorful cartoon-like style.

Kudos for the extensive back matter! Besides the excellent section on poetry analysis, there is a science glossary, and more details about symbiosis and mutualism with supporting links.

Evaluation: What a fun way to to learn about multiple subjects at once! The suggested audience of 7 and over might want to try their own poems in each style, or contemplate the ways in which human interrelationships can be symbiotic. show less

So much is packed into this little book! Meticulously researched, you can learn about the bacteria, fungi, and insects that act as recyclers and decomposers in the "brown food web" with entertaining poems followed by science notes about each critter. What elementary or middle school kid wouldn't love a poem about pillbugs (isopods) with stanzas like "This crew can chew the whole night through / In dead leaf demolition, / And then they chew each others' poo, / For extra-rich nutrition!" I was show more fascinated by facts such as this one about the water bear (tardigrade): It can survive extreme environmental conditions for years by shrinking into a "tun" and stopping all bodily functions until things get better. It makes me wonder what amazing, life-saving abilities we can learn from all "leaf litter critters" and figure out ways to adapt their skills for human use in the future. I found myself singing the final poem to the tune of "My Favorite Things" before I even realized this was Ms. Bulion's intention. But wait, there's more! The book includes a scale that compares the sizes of each critter relative to a straight pin, a glossary, experiments to try, and websites and books to explore the topics further. My favorite part, I have to admit, was reading the poetry notes about each poem. Do you know what a rubliw is? I hadn't heard about this poetic form before this. Add Mr. Meganck's fun and bright illustrations and you've got a winning combination. (I received an ARC. Publication date: March 2018) show less

We learn about the superlatives of the bird world--the smallest, who has the most feathers, the biggest nest, etc.—through poetry enhanced by an accompanying paragraph labeled Science Notes. Different styles of poems are employed for each bird. Backmatter includes a glossary, notes on the style of poem used for each bird poem and birding resources. The diversity of poetry styles includes blues, tanka, madsong stanza and tendi. Poems are clever, quirky, humorous and lively, and incorporate show more facts about the birds, all within the poem’s designated style. Words do not feel wasted, are selected and placed just so. Overall, an informative and entertaining non-fiction package, very accessible to young new birders. show less

Review also published on my blog: AWordsWorth.blogspot.com
Book provided by publisher for review

Miller Sanford is eleven-and-a-half, and has been waiting on this day for a long, long time. What day? Why, Fair Friday of course! The day all schools and businesses close, and everyone in his little town of Holmsbury flock to the fairgrounds and enjoy a day "alone" before all the neighboring towns come. This year, Miller is striving to prove he is reliable and responsible enough to be on his own show more at the fair -- even going so far as to be nice to his little sister Penelope and her friends Andrew and Lou Ann. (And that should tell you something, ha!) Funny thing about being eleven-and-a-half though, things don't always work out the way you plan. Soon, Miller's fair plans are one big, huge, giant, tangled mess. Who knew that so much could go wrong in one day? Miller definitely gets a chance to show off his new, older, more responsible side.

Miller's day of misadventures is told in an easy, humorous, and oh-so-very realistic style. Miller's a bit of a science nut (physics, to be exact), and he spends a lot of time breaking down his surroundings and decisions into scientific parts. (It's actually eerily like the way my brother would look at life from a more naturalistic/biological perspective, so Bulion got the science-boy aspect spot-on!) And the loose black and white illustrations are perfect accents to the story. There's a little mystery, a lot of dramatic build-up, and some wonderful miscommunications. I loved the little kids too, and Miller's best friend Lewish -- who is glued to his video camera. All in all, The Universe of Fair definitely made me want to go spend a day at the Fair ... only, without quite so many mishaps -- even though everything worked out, I'd rather read the (admittedly comic) drama than live it. show less