Imagine an insect as small as a grain of rice killing a tree that towers 70 feet above the forest floor. Seems impossible, doesn't it? Not when one mountain pine beetle joins forces with thousands of others to form an army of forest killers.
In "The Mountain Pine Beetle: Tiny but Mighty," Kay Turnbaugh tells the story of how such a tiny insect has managed to change the landscape of our western forests. With lively text, vivid (and sometimes icky) photographs, plus engaging illustrations, "The Mountain Pine Beetle" tells us how these little buggers operate and how the forests manage to survive.
Perfect for schools and libraries and anyone who wants to make sense of the world around them.
E The Environmental Magazine wrote:"En masse, these tiny black insects can wipe out swaths of forests-in fact, it's happening right now...due to a combination of conditions that include warming temperatures (which allow the beetles to reproduce faster). Using photographs and [illustrations], Turnbaugh describes how beetles munch through pine bark, then lay eggs that metamorphose into adult beetles. A nefarious blue fungus hitchhikes in their mouths and ultimately kills the trees by depriving them of water. The mountain pine beetles can be valuable to ecosystems, as well: Fallen trees decompose, enriching the soil. Still, we must fight the plague of beetles. As kids eventually learn, too much of a good thing can have rotten consequences."
ColoradoCountryLife.coop wrote:"Each colorful page is full of fascinating facts like 'beetle-killed forests can change how the clouds form and where it rains and snows for 10 years or more' as well as fun facts like how beetles weren't bothered when scientists were 'playing rock music.' Kids can feel empowered with the book's conclusion, 'What's a Kid to Do?' where they are encouraged to 'take part in a tree-planting project' or 'become a scientist' to help fight the beetle epidemic and save forests."
HeadwatersNews.org wrote:"Lots of facts and more can be found in the brightly illustrated and very informative The Mountain Pine Beetle: Tiny But Mighty. While pine beetles usually help recycle old trees so that new trees can grow, current drought and climate conditions have caused an epidemic of pine beetles that threatens the stability of mountain forest ecosystems. The first step to figuring out how to keep our forests healthy is learning more about the pine beetle, and reading this book is a great place for kids to start learning about what they can do to help. To help your kids learn more about the mountain pine beetle, and maybe even to learn a few things yourself, find TheMountain Pine Beetle: Tiny But Mighty..."
"This book is full of up-close photos of what the beetles naturally do. Kay Turnbaugh tells the story of how such a tiny insect has managed to change the landscape of our western forests. With lively text, vivid photographs, and engaging illustrations, The Mountain Pine Beetle tells us how these beetles operate and how the forests manage to survive."