Review Detail

‘Wait—and See’ by Helen Frost and Rick Lieder is full of amazing photographs of praying mantises. Nature is always something to marvel at, and this book goes along with that theme, sharing images of this insect and telling a short, but engaging tale about it. The praying mantis itself is brown and green, and it does its utmost not to be seen. It’s similar to a staring game, and it makes one wonder if the praying mantis would break first or the person looking at it. However, if it wants to eat, it won’t matter if someone is there, because it will snatch at its prey so it has something to feed on to alleviate its hunger.

The sheer number of praying mantises that come from one egg case is astounding, though upon reading further about this insect, it seems only a small number survive.

The lyrical, rhyming nature of the book is engaging, allowing readers to connect with the images all the more. The final page of the book also includes some additional information about the photographs and the praying mantises themselves, encouraging readers to do more research, observe more of their surroundings, and never hesitate to ask questions that pique their curiosity.