A Nature Diary Books
In order from My Awesome Summer by P. Mantis to My Tiny Life by Ruby T. Hummingbird
Book #1
My Awesome Summer by P. Mantis
Written and illustrated by Paul Meisel
4 - 8
Reading
age
40
Page
count
13
Words
per page
Feb 28, 2017
Publication
date
Physical book
$16.99
$15.80
Summary
Get a bug’s-eye-view on the life cycle of the praying mantis, in this hilarious, scientifically accurate Nature Diary following an insect through her whole summer.
Finalist for the AAAS/Subaru SB&F Prize for Excellence in Science Books
“May 17: I was born today! It’s a beautiful, sunny spring day!”
This is the diary of P. Mantis, one of 150 brothers and sisters born on a garden bush. P. Mantis is an amazing bug: she can make herself look like a stick to hide from predators, she can swivel her head all the way around, and when she’s grown up she’ll even be able to fly!
In dated journal entries P. Mantis describes the entirety of her life, sharing the fun and beauty of her world as well its little ups and downs (“I ate one of my brothers. Okay, maybe two”). Colorful, bold art helps illustrate the different stages of the mantis life cycle, and the engaging, narrative text is paired with more detailed information about praying mantises on the heavily-illustrated endpapers.
A Nature Diary Series
Published from 2017 - 2021
4 books| Year | Title | Pages |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | My Awesome Summer by P. Mantis | 40 |
| 2019 | My Happy Year by E. Bluebird | 40 |
| 2020 | My Stinky Summer by S. Bug | 40 |
| 2021 | My Tiny Life by Ruby T. Hummingbird | 40 |
The Creative Behind the Books
Author & Illustrator
Paul Meisel, who holds a master’s degree in graphic design from Yale University, has illustrated many books for children, some of which he also wrote. Two of his I Like to Read(R) books, See Me Run and I See a Cat, are Theodor Seuss Geisel Award Honor books. His Nature Diary series began with My Awesome Summer by P. Mantis, a finalist for the AAAS/Subaru SB&F Prize for Excellence in Science Books and a Virginia Reader’s Choice. The Schmutzy Family, written by Marilyn Rosenberg and illustrated by Paul Meisel, was a National Jewish Book Award Finalist. Paul lives in Connecticut.
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