by Margaret J. Anderson
I think this book was recommended by another member of the Mater Amabilis™ Facebook group. I read it aloud to all four kids. It was ideal for the younger two (11 and 9) but the older two (15 and 13) didn't complain. Mater Amabilis™ Level 1A (second and third grade) includes a study of insects, which we've never done, but this book would be a wonderful supplement to that study.
Written from the point of view of one of Henri Fabre's younger children, Paul, when he was ten. Paul and his younger sisters are the assistants, sharing the responsibility for collection and observation for Henri Fabre as he investigates the lives of the insects on his farm in France. It's a marvelous account of how anyone can explore the natural world right outside our doors. Even if we don't discover something unknown to science, we can delight in creation.
Each chapter is only a few pages and most cover a single insect. We don't narrate our family read-alouds, but I think the chapters would make excellent readings for narrations even for relatively young students.
I love reading aloud from a book on the natural world. We don't get out for nature study as often as we have in the past and certainly not as often as I like, but books like these encourage the younger two, who still have ample free time outside nearly every day, to continue to explore even when they aren't toting around their nature notebooks.
This post contains my honest opinions. I have received nothing in exchange for it. Links to Amazon are affiliate links.
