Moth and Wasp, Soil and Ocean

Remembering Chinese Scientist Pu Zhelong’s Work for Sustainable Farming

A picture book by Sigrid Schmalzer, illustrated by Melanie Chan

Awards and Reviews

Moth and Wasp has won:

More accolades:

  • Named a Notable Social Studies book for 2019 by the National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) and the Children’s Book Council
  • Listed as a CCBC Choices 2019 book by the Cooperative Children's Book Center of the School of Education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Reviews

"Moth and Wasp, Soil and Ocean is a lyrical story with an environmental theme. It beautifully conveys the experiences of rural people and scientists in recent Chinese history." -- Zuoyue Wang, Professor of History, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona

"A picture book about the scientist who pioneered integrated pest management sounds boring, but this title is anything but. Schmalzer presents the life of Pu Zhelong through flashbacks and connects it to a child's-eye-view of a changing world, all set against the backdrop of Communist-era China. The representative illustrations create a fascinating, multi-layered visual feast that frames the flashbacks as journal pages and which incorporate historically and scientifically accurate illustrations of tools and insects set within beautifully designed Chinese paper cuts. This title would be a great STEAM pick for classrooms or home use. Both the illustrations and the science are fantastic. -- School Library Connection

"Readers interested in environmental science and Chinese history, language, and culture will find an engaging and informative story here." -- School Library Journal

"A true gem of history that will inspire adults and kids... A beautiful diverse story that will help children get a better picture of life in other places and times." -- Vivian Kirkfield, Perfect Picture Book Friday

"Narrated by a young farm boy, the telling is gentle, lyrical, and informative... The beautifully detailed illustrations immerse the reader in the culture and make this a thoroughly accessible text with valuable science for today’s world." -- Beth Anderson

"Author Sigrid Schmalzer knows her subject well and that’s apparent. Her strength, however, is her ability to make this topic accessible for young readers... Illustrator Melanie Chan builds on Schmalzer’s text, providing context and making scientific process easier to understand." -- Cracking the Cover