Steve Swinburne

Lots and Lots of Zebra Stripes - Patterns in Nature

Photographs by Steve Swinburne.
Published by Boyds Mills Press, 1998.
Hardcover 1-56397-707-9

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"Ages 3-7. On the first page of this gorgeous photo-essay, Swinburne defines patterns as "lines and shapes that repeat," opening the way for them to be found everywhere. And find them he does -- on the striped watermelons of summer and ridged pumpkins of autumn; in spider webs and on scaly snakes. He also shows how some patterns, such as the rings of a tree, can give us information. Using a variety of simple questions, he encourages youngsters to look for patterns in likely places such as flowers and insects, as well as unlikely ones such as the inside of their lunch snack. By the time the last page is turned, even the young children will understand the concept. A nature walk or just a stroll through the neighborhood to look for patterns would be a pleasant way to reinforce the concept and demonstrate its real-life applications.

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