Common thought places cicadas as tree dwellers; these odd insects actually live most of their lives underground. This book details the bizarre life cycle of the cicada, including the deposit of hundreds of eggs on a tree branch and details of a species that can live 17 years. Fascinating fact boxes provide readers with more strange information, and fun graphic organizers aid understanding. Full-color photographs enhance easy-to-understand language and science content. Many species of cuckoo lay their eggs in the nests of other birds. After the young cuckoo hatches, it may eject the other babies from the nest so it can thrive.

Introduces the life cycle of the mayfly, discussing its physical characteristics, eating habits, and reproduction.

Many species of cuckoo lay their eggs in the nests of other birds. After the young cuckoo hatches, it may eject the other babies from the nest so it can thrive. Readers learn these and other amazing facts about the life cycle of the cuckoo through engaging and information text. Colorful photographs engage readers in the easy-to-read explanations. Fact boxes add even more weird information about the cuckoo, and graphic organizers enhance readers’ understanding of science content.

Readers learn about the unique life cycle of the octopus, including facts such as a mother octopus doesn’t eat while taking care of her eggs and neither male nor female octopuses live very long after becoming parents. Colorful photographs and engaging graphic organizers enhance age-appropriate language and science content. Bizarre fact boxes draw in readers with even more octopus oddities.

Using age-appropriate language and accessible science content, readers are introduced to the unique lives of a beloved marsupial, the kangaroo. Baby kangaroos are born and climb into their mother’s pouch after just 33 days in utero. Using colorful photographs and fun fact boxes, readers learn bizarre information and use helpful graphic organizers to reinforce key information.

Only about 10 percent of salmon offspring live to the second stage of the fish’s life cycle. Even stranger, they sometimes develop a hump or large teeth before reproducing. Readers learn these bizarre facts and more with colorful photographs and fact boxes detailing other weird salmon information. Written in age-appropriate language, the engaging text introduces readers to important science concepts and includes graphic organizers to aid understanding.

WINNER OF THE CBCA PICTURE BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARD 2019 Cicada work in tall building. Data entry clerk. Seventeen year. No sick day. No mistake. Tok Tok Tok! Cicada works in an office, dutifully toiling day after day for unappreciative bosses and being bullied by his coworkers. But one day, cicada goes to the roof of the building, and something truly extraordinary happens ... A story for anyone who has ever felt unappreciated, overlooked or overworked, from Australia's most acclaimed picture book creator.