The book "The Monarchs are Missing" by Rebecca Hirsch is about Monarch butterflies and their migration patterns. It dives into the significance of monarch butterflies and what they do for our earth. It touches on the fact that monarch butterflies are becoming extinct! These butterflies are essential to their ecosystems and the food webs. Their extinction is due to human factors like cutting down the trees that they call home. Yet it is possible to revive the monarch population with help from scientists and research. I liked this book, I think it was very informative. I would use it in a classroom for a lesson on ecosystems, food webs or migration!. I think it would be a great introduction to a unit. ( )

This book is a "chapter book" but it is deceivingly not quite so. It has different chapters inside it, but it does not look like your usual chapter book. It definitely looks like a picture book from the outside. There are pictures in the book, however, it is much heavier on the text. This book talks about the history of monarchs, and the struggles that they've gone through as a species. This book talks about how they migrate, when they went "missing", etc.

In clear, concise language, this book describes the life cycle, migration patterns, and problems affecting monarch butterflies. Beautiful, full-color illustrations accompany the text.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and learned some new information as well. For example, I knew that monarchs migrate to Southern California and Mexico for the winter but I did not know that this was based on the Rockies; those butterflies born west of the Rockies go to California and those born to the east of that mountain range fly to Mexico.

Throughout the book, there is detailed information, including statistics, about much of the science behind the monarchs and why their numbers have dwindled. Talk about the role of citizen science makes it clear that readers can take steps to further the research and help monarchs.

My only quibble with this book is its format. The physical size and shape of the book make it seem like a picture book for very young readers. However, once you open its pages, it's clear from the amount of text per page that it's for an older audience. I worry that older readers may pass it over thinking it is for younger kids while those little ones will be frustrated by how wordy it is. ( )

Say "butterfly" to a kid or adult and odds are good they will immediately think of a monarch butterfly. These gorgeous orange and black insects are known for their amazing migrations across the US to Mexico, the iconic pictures of trees covered in monarchs, and their distinctive striped black, white, and yellow-green caterpillars. But, like so many other creatures, the monarchs are in danger. In the winter of 2013/2014, historically low numbers were recorded at the wintering grounds in Mexico. Hirsch goes on a journey through the history of monarchs up to present-day scientists to solve the mystery.

Hirsch takes readers through the discovery of the monarchs' unique migration patterns; one large group, those to the west of the Rocky Mountains, migrated to California. Those east of the Rockies seemed to simply disappear. At the same time, small villages in the mountains of central Mexico welcomed floods of mariposas every year, without knowing where they came from. Finally, in the 1970s, scientists discovered the monarchs in a forest high in the mountains in Mexico. Hirsch continues through the scientific discoveries of the monarch's life cycle and migration, ending with their slow decline, beginning in the 90s.

Scientists discovered multiple factors affecting the monarchs; climate change and local habitat destruction was making the Mexican oyamel forests no longer a safe haven for the monarchs. Changes in weather patterns in Texas have also affected the monarchs. Milkweed was disappearing from the fields and tropical milkweed was disrupting the monarchs' migration patterns and possibly giving them diseases. Is there hope for the monarchs, threatened by many different elements? Hirsch explores the measures being taken to save monarchs, how readers can get involved, and the continuing work of scientists to protect these dazzling insects.

Verdict: This is an excellent introduction to a complicated scientific problem, one that kids can easily get involved in. A great point to start research or a school project, this is sure to be popular with teachers and students alike.

ISBN: 9781512452501; Published 2018 by Millbrook; Purchased for the library

Students could study the life of a butterfly specifically a monarch in this case and see where is starts and then forms into a butterfly. You could have a butterfly house that students would be able to observe every day in the interactive notebooks. Students would also be taught and engage in the activity of habits that animals maintain and their adaptations. There would be an emphasis specifically on the life cycle. ( )