Wings, Waves, & Webs: Patterns in Nature

by Robin Mitchell Cranfield

A visually stunning introduction to patterns found in nature. Perfect for early STEM learning in preschool and kindergarten.

From the dots on a ladybug to the spiral on a snail, patterns in nature can be found anywhere. This simple and playful concept book introduces the littlest of readers to both math and nature while engaging their creative potential. By the end, kids will be able to identify:

Spots and stripes Spirals and symmetry Waves and honeycombs And more After learning about key patterns, the book's final page--a striking sunflower--will inspire kids to find patterns for themselves. Vibrant and immersive, Wings, Waves, and Webs invites young children to discover the beauty of the world around them.

Genres: Picture Books, Nature, Stem, Nonfiction, Animals, Art, Childrens

36 pages, Hardcover

Published April 18, 2023

Reviews

[Sunday]

Beautiful illustrations. Loved the two page layout with the name of the pattern and a symbol at the bottom of one side and running text on the other.

What fell apart for me was the content in the running text. It didn't feel cohesive.
This ladybug can be identified by its exact number of spots, while a guinea fowl can lose a feather with twenty-two spots and never even notice! p. 3-4
VS
A spider's web gets bigger and bigger with every swirl. A snail's shell spirals in two directions...
Are we being imaginative or sharing information? What's the purpose? Not sure and our young audience members might be confused too.

I also think the definition shared at the beginning (Anything repeated in a regular way can form a pattern) breaks down for examples later in the book with examples of patterns like cracks - the young audience might need a better explanation of how a crack is a pattern. This could have happened in the back matter, but there is NO BACK MATTER. A missed opportunity?

That said I'D STILL READ THIS ALOUD in PreK-1st. Maybe my wishes or the flaws are probably only recognizable to an adult???? I think young children would be enthralled and immediately begin to absorb the vocabulary. It could be a great lead into a unit of study, particularly one that includes inquiry!

[Jessica Kluthe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Many of our most-loved books are nature focused.

This is the kind of book that can get you outdoors (a gateway!) and that you might want to pack along on a nature walk or picnic or even a trip to the park! Which patterns can you find?

I know that part of the early learning curriculum includes patterns — and I think this book would be a useful addition to the classroom library, too!

Why? Because it goes well beyond standard patterns to include spots, waves, honeycomb, branching, and meanders. In addition, as mentioned, it can get you outside exploring, and it readily lends itself to activities (for instance, perhaps weaving a web with branches and yarn to create a spiral pattern).

Each vibrant two-page spread includes a block of white space across the bottom where you will find the name of the type of pattern and a clear explanation. The illustrations, which beautifully depict each pattern, take up most of the page and are both artful and educational. It’s a beautiful, well-crafted book.

Ohh, I love this book: let’s get outside to look! Can you spot collective motion? The branching of a bolt of lightning? Or what about the mirror symmetry of a swallowtail?

Thank you to Greystone Books for gifting this book to my family in exchange for an honest review.

[Aolund · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this attractive book which muses upon and celebrates a wide range of patterns found in nature!

Themes: Patterns, Nature, Art, Beauty
Age range: All ages

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

|| WINGS, WAVE AND WEBS ||
#gifted/@greystonekidsbooks
🦋🌊🕸
Loved this one! WINGS, WAVES AND WEBS is a wonderfully designed picture book teaching young readers about patterns we see in nature. My daughter is heading into kindergarten soon and this book is one she picks regularly. Its great to see her engage with this book and then point out patterns she sees on our walks.

Perfect for young nature lovers but also younger kids being introduced to patterns and shapes we see in our daily lives. Bravo!👏🏻

(Reccomended for ages 2-6)

For more of my book content check out instagram.com/bookalong

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting nonfiction picture book that presents a brief discussion about various patterns found in nature. Usually there is a double page spread featuring two examples of the patterns illustrated in bright colors. For stripes we see a skunk and sunflower seeds and for radial symmetry we see water lilies and starfish. This title would work well related to science and also as a prompt for art inspiration.

[Rebecca Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an accessible picture-book like option for Preschool-Second grade children to learn about patterns in nature with bold pictures. Kids can definitely enjoy following this up with vocabular and finding patterns on their own in the world around them!

[Andréa]

Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book from the publisher through Edelweiss.

[Addie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Educational. 3 year old and I liked the interactive part at the end

[The Silvan Reverie | Sarah Street · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic picture book celebrating patterns in nature! Each page spread has a pattern-based theme (e.g. spots, stripes, honeycomb, spirals, etc) and provides two examples for each pattern. Each pattern is described in an easy to understand way and they the two illustrated examples are explained. Each page contains maybe 3 sentences so this is great for young children. I love the organization, the graphic style of illustration, and the way the information is interesting and age-appropriate in complexity.

For more notable 2023 nature-based books for children visit my blog:
https://thesilvanreverie.com/2023/04/...

***Note: I was given a review copy of this book via Greystone Kids. Opinions are my own.

[Hannah Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Both the illustrations and words do a marvelous job describing multiple complex patterns with simplicity and wonder. After reading this, the world will be revealed in a whole new way. You will find patterns everywhere, and your fingers will itch to draw those patterns. It's a book that makes you want to learn more!