Scientific American Investigates Life Cycles

It's possible that some kinds of adult mayflies live a day-or less! How can this be and allow mayflies to still exist as a species? Readers learn the answer to this question and more strange information about the short life cycle of a mayfly in this book. With full-color photographs and a graphic organizer with life cycle steps clearly labeled to aid understanding, the book presents science content in age-appropriate language and detail. Fun Fact boxes supplement the main content, engaging both science lovers and bug enthusiasts.

What's that deafening buzz? It may be a cicada group living in your tree! But, these odd insects actually live most of their lives underground. This book details the bizarre life cycle of the cicada, including the deposit of hundreds of eggs on a tree branch and more information about the periodic cicada that can live 17 years! Fun Fact boxes give readers even more strange information, and a simple graphic organizer of their life cycle aids readers' understanding. Full-color photographs enhance easy-to-understand language and science content.

Many cuckoo mothers outsource their parenting by laying their eggs in the nests of other birds! Then, once a young cuckoo hatches, it may kick other bird babies out of the nest so it can get more food! These incredible facts engage readers from the first page of this colorful volume. The main text includes information about this strange life cycle as well as their habitat, habits, and diet. Fun fact boxes give even more weird information and a graphic organizer enhances readers' understanding of what they have read.

Kangaroo mothers give birth to live babies after just 33 days of gestation! Then, babies-whose hind legs haven't fully developed yet-climb into their mother's pouch to drink special milk and continue to develop. This fascinating life cycle is detailed for readers in this volume, all told through age-appropriate language and content. Full-color photographs and fun fact boxes supplement the main content and a graphic organizer clearly shows the kangaroo life cycle from beginning to end to aid readers' understanding.

Parenthood doesn't sound joyful for an octopus: Mother octopuses don't eat while taking care of her eggs, and neither male nor female octopuses live long after they have babies. Still, this fascinating life cycle gives readers a look at one of the many ways animals reproduce and thrive-strange as it may seem. Full-color photographs and a graphic organizer enhance age-appropriate language and science content. Fun Fact boxes include even more odd octopus information, engaging readers and aiding understanding.

The image of salmon swimming upriver to reach their spawning location is amazing. What's more incredible is that only about 10 percent of salmon offspring live to the second stage of the fish's life cycle! In addition, they sometimes develop a hump or large teeth before reproducing. These bizarre facts keep readers turning pages in this colorful volume. The main content covers important science information about life cycles, habitats, and animal groups, and Fun Fact boxes enhance the reading experience with more strange tidbits and explanation. Full-color photographs bring readers close to the weird life of the salmon!