Synopses & Reviews
Review
"Four four years, Hatch (Bees and Wasps: An Appreciation) took high magnification photographs of insects, frogs, and other small creatures in his own back yard and pond in Portland, OR. The results are stunning-hundreds of full-color photos in exquisite detail of frogs, bees, wasps, algae, worms and planaria, spiders, beetles, butterflies, termites, ants, slugs, and more. Many of the images are of life-cycle stages, and all are accompanied by detailed captions that give information about both how the photo was taken and the biology of the creature pictured. The only flaw is the formatting: the photos are large and the text wraps around them irregularly on several pages. Appendixes include suggestions for learning more about nature and for further reading on each of the groups of species featured. VERDICT An excellent supplement to any biology class. Children and adults will enjoy using the book as an identification guide to the critters in their own backyards. Thanks to the author's explanation of his photographic techniques, the title will also interest anyone involved in nature photography." Rachel Owens, Daytona State Coll. Lib., FL © Copyright 2015. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review
"Hatch's impressive and attractive book is written from a unique and fascinating perspective. He documents in prose and photos how he transformed his small Portland yard – only one-sixth of an acre – into a vital habitat for Pacific tree frogs, dragonflies, damselflies and other beneficial creatures....His well-researched and informative book...allows readers to take a tour of his garden and develop a greater appreciation for creatures that are generally taken for granted." The Oregonian