CYBILS NONFICTION FINALIST- HANDLE WITH CARE

In Colorado, we know about farms that raise corn, and wheat, and sugar beets. But did you know there is also a farm that raises butterflies? HANDLE WITH CARE follows nonfiction author extraordinaire Loree Griffin Burns and photographer Ellen Harasimowicz as they visit El Bosque Nuevo, a farm in Costa Rica that grows butterflies to sell to museums.

Beautiful photography follows the butterfly farmers throughout their daily tasks. A young crop of caterpillars can eat an entire greenhouse in one or two days, so farmers constantly bring in new plants, and also plates of crushed bananas and sugar water for the adult butterflies. They protect the caterpillars and butterflies from birds, snakes, and frogs that want to sneak in and eat their crops. Older caterpillars are moved to a puparium, then the pupas are then packed into special boxes, delivered to the airport and sent to far away museums. It's critical that they  arrive at their final destination before this stage of the life cycle ends.

End pages include notes on insects and their life cycles (did you know there are three kinds of metamorphosis?), a glossary, and resources for further reading.

Perfect for a unit on butterflies or life cycles!

Read the CYBILS review here.