Ladybugs

Working in pen, ink, and watercolor, Gibbons introduces readers to ladybugs, covering ladybug anatomy, different types of ladybugs (such as the two-dotted ladybug and ash-gray ladybug), and their development, predators, and habits. The prose is straightforward—“They live on six of the seven continents. Many scientists believe there are about 5,000 different kinds of ladybugs around the world”—and Gibbons’s artwork is loose and cheerful, though the spreads feel cluttered and a bit dated in terms of layout and font choice. Surprising facts (ladybugs play dead to discourage potential predators) underscore Gibbons’s educational but nondidactic approach. Ages 4–8. (Apr.)